Authoritative Parenting Style and Youth Religiosity : The Mediating Role of Problem-Solving

This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of distraction and problem-solving in the relationship between authoritative parenting style and religiosity. Participants were 340 students (49.7% female) aged from 9 to 15 (M = 12.13, SD = 1.30) from local primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. Results indicated that authoritative parenting style is positively related to distraction and problem-solving, as well as to religiosity. Distraction and problem-solving were positively related to religiosity. Importantly, association between authoritative parenting style and youth’s religiosity was mediated by distraction and problem-solving, suggesting that distraction and problem-solving are used as an adaptive coping strategy by religious youths brought up in an authoritative parenting environment. Parenting practices may be antecedents of youths’ response styles to negative emotion that contribute to their ability to cope with stressful situations. Implications for youth religious teaching are discussed and parenting considerations proposed.