Parental Harsh Discipline and Its Relation with Self-Esteem and Emotional Stability among Students in Tikur Anbessa and Minilik Ii Secondary Schools
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Date
2026-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between parental harsh verbal discipline and adolescents’ self-esteem and emotional stability among public secondary school students in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 325 adolescents selected through stratified random sampling from TekurAnbesa Secondary School and Menelik II Secondary School. Standardized self-report measures assessed parental harsh verbal discipline, self-esteem, and emotional stability. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis with interaction terms. The results indicated that parents’ harsh verbal discipline was negatively related to adolescents’ self-esteem (r = −.340, p < .001) and emotional stability (r = −.330, p < .001). Self-esteem was positively associated with emotional stability (r = .349, p < .001). Regression analyses showed that parental harsh verbal discipline was a significant predictor of significantly lower self-esteem (β = −.336, p < .001) and emotional stability (β = −.322, p < .001). Furthermore, the moderation analyses revealed that neither gender nor age moderated the association between parental harsh verbal discipline and adolescents’ self-esteem or emotional stability. Results provide evidence of an association between harsh verbal discipline by parents and poorer psychological functioning for adolescents independent of age and gender differences. The study suggests the promotion of positive parent-adolescent communication and parenting education programs promoting non-aggressive disciplinary practices for the promotion of the psychological well-being of adolescents.
Keywords: Harsh verbal discipline, self-esteem, emotional stability, adolescents, age, gender, Addis Ababa.
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Keywords
Harsh verbal discipline, self-esteem, emotional stability, adolescents, age, gender, Addis Ababa.