Muhammad Kamal Uddin, Khadija Twl Kubra, and Jannatul Ferdous
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
The present study tested indirect effect of parental acceptance on the relationship between best friend acceptance and psychological adjustment in a sample of 250 Bangladeshi adolescents (50% male and 50% female), age ranging from 13 to 18 years. Participants were selected based on purposive sampling technique and the study was cross sectional in nature. Data were collected from respondents using Best Friend Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire, Child version of Parental Acceptance-Rejection and Personality Assessment Questionnaire. Results of Pearson product moment correlations showed significant positive associations between all the main variables in the study. Independent sample t tests revealed non-significant gender differences in maternal and paternal acceptance, best friend acceptance, and psychological adjustment. Regression analyses demonstrated maternal and paternal acceptance as significant predictors of best friend acceptance. Further regression analysis manifested maternal (but not paternal) and best friend acceptance as significant predictors of psychological adjustment of adolescents. Mediation regression analysis confirmed that there is a significant indirect effect of parental (maternal and paternal) acceptance on the association between best friend acceptance and psychological adjustment (z = 1.96, p < .001).
The findings of the study have implications for parents, teachers and mental health professionals.
Key words: Best friend acceptance, psychological adjustment, maternal acceptance, paternal acceptance