Harsh Parenting and Social Anxiety among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties

Abstract

In the cultural context of Pakistan, harsh parenting is often disguised as a method of disciplining children; however, it can have psychological consequences, such as social anxiety. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between harsh parenting and social anxiety, with emotion regulation difficulties as a mediator among adolescents. The study utilized a cross-sectional correlational research design and purposive sampling to recruit participants aged 15 to 19 years, including school and college students from the well-known cities of Lahore, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Standardized questionnaires were used to measure the study variables, including the Harsh Parenting Scale (HPS), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale–Short Form (DERS-SF), and Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents–Short Form (SAS-A-SF). Pearson product-moment correlation analysis revealed significant relationships among harsh parenting, emotion regulation difficulties, and social anxiety. Mediation analysis using Hayes’ PROCESS Macro 4.2, Model 4, revealed a partial mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties, as the direct effect of harsh parenting on social anxiety remained statistically significant. The study emphasizes the importance of mental health awareness within the community. Future studies are recommended to utilize Urdu versions of the questionnaires, include participants younger than 15 years, and recruit participants from a wider range of cities across Pakistan to enhance the generalizability of the findings.