Assessment of the Parent-Child Relationship Among Male and Female High School Students

Abstract

This study examines the parent-child relationship (PCR) among male and female high school students in Nashik, Maharashtra, India, with the objective of identifying gender differences in various dimensions of PCR. A total of 100 high school students, equally divided between male and female participants (ages 12-16), were selected through a non-probability random sampling method. The Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS), developed by Dr. Nalini Rao, was used to assess 10 dimensions of PCR, including areas of positive interaction (e.g., protection, love, reward) and negative interaction (e.g., punishment, neglect). The results, analyzed using t-tests, revealed significant gender differences in three dimensions: Object Punishment, Object Reward, and Protecting. Specifically, male students reported higher levels of object punishment and perceived protection, while female students experienced more object rewards. No significant differences were found in other areas such as symbolic punishment, rejecting, demanding, or loving behaviors. These findings suggest that gender influences how adolescents perceive their relationships with parents, highlighting the need for further research into how these dynamics impact adolescent development.