THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARENTING AND POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (PYD) AMONG MALAYSIAN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between parenting practices and Positive Youth Development (PYD) among Malaysian adolescents, drawing upon Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Lerner’s Developmental Systems Theory as its conceptual frameworks. A total of 231 adolescents aged 11 to 15 years from government and international schools in Kuala Lumpur were selected through stratified random sampling. The Positive Youth Development–Short Form (PYD-SF) and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) were administered in bilingual (Malay and English) formats to assess key dimensions of PYD and parenting behaviours. Reliability analyses confirmed strong internal consistency for both instruments across language versions (α = .77–.82). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to test hypothesized relationships. The results revealed that positive parenting behaviours—such as warmth, involvement, and consistent discipline—were significantly associated with higher PYD scores, whereas negative parenting dimensions—including corporal punishment, poor monitoring, and inconsistent discipline—showed negative associations. No significant differences in PYD were observed across gender, school type, or family income. The findings underscore the vital role of supportive parenting in fostering adolescents’ competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring within Malaysia’s multicultural context. The study highlights the need for community-based parenting interventions to promote positive developmental outcomes and strengthen family–adolescent relationships.