Parenting styles (authoritarian and authoritative) and childhood traumatic experiences as predictors of emotion regulation among young adults in Malaysia

Chin, Meng En and Tan, Hui Wen and Wong, En (2025) Parenting styles (authoritarian and authoritative) and childhood traumatic experiences as predictors of emotion regulation among young adults in Malaysia. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

The insufficient ability of emotional regulation is a rising concern among Malaysian young adults. This has led them to a level of vulnerability when facing stressful events, where they struggle with mental health issues and suicidal attempts. Therefore, the present study examines the predictive role of parenting styles (authoritative and authoritarian) and childhood traumatic experiences on emotion regulation among young adults in Malaysia. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed to study 145 Malaysian participants, aged 18-29, recruited for the study. Parenting Style Questionnaire, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16) were utilised to measure the variables of the study. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that authoritarian parenting (β = −.220, p < .001) and childhood trauma (β = −.271, p = .012) significantly predicted poorer emotion regulation. However, authoritative parenting (β = −.051, p = .586) was not significantly associated with emotional regulation. The findings align with Social Cognitive Theory, emphasising how early environmental influences shape emotional self-regulation. To take note, authoritarian parenting's negative impact may also be exacerbated in Malaysia's collectivist culture, where emotional suppression is reinforced. Understanding these factors may be beneficial for developing effective interventions, including parenting workshops to reduce punitive practices and school-based programs to enhance emotional awareness. Limitations of the study include gender and ethnic imbalances in the sample (95.5% Chinese; 68.3% female) and reliance on cross-sectional data. Recommendations for future studies were suggested to improve generalizability and avoid possible bias.

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