A Comparative Study of Parent-Child Relationship, Communication, Self-Easteem and Academic Achievements Between Female Students of Public and Private Schools

Abstract

The purpose of present study was to identify dynamics of parenting in parent-child relationship, communication, self-esteem and academic achievements of female students. The core theme of current research addressed parent-child relationship by focusing on mother- daughter dyad. The main objective of research was to measure and compare parent-child relationship, parent-child communication, self-esteem and academic achievements between female students of public and private schools. From logical theoretical framework and rigorous synthesis of extensive review of relevant literature, all research variables & indicators were extracted, selected and identified for quantitative measurement. Four theoretical perspectives were analyzed to build theoretical framework, in which bio-ecological theory explained macro and micro environmental influences on child through coordination of different layers of family relations & systems of schools. Family system theory of communication explained family communication patterns& skill used by parent to enhance parent-child relationship in the family. Social capital theory addressed parent-child relationship as social capital for children to get academic achievement in their schools. Symbolic interactionism helped to explain the process of development of concept of self-esteem in adolescent girls. This theoretical framework provides philosophic reasoning and logic by connecting all facts together in a coherent whole. Quantitative survey design was used to get information through self- administrated questionnaire. It was a structured questionnaire that consisted on four parts including structured questions with probable key options given below. The participants of present study were female students of age ranged between 13 to 16 years from different public and private schools of Lahore, who were attending 8th and 9th classes respectively. The sample was consisting of 864 female students, in which 511 students were from public and 353 from private schools. Convenient sampling technique was used due to unequal distribution of population in the schools of public and private sectors. Data was statistically analyzed by applying Chi-square test to compare the frequencies between public and private schools. Results showed significant difference in almost all sets of variables of parent-child relationship and parent-child communication. However, the level of academic achievement was significantly higher in students of private schools as compared to public schools. Whereas, the level of self- esteem was significantly higher in both groups of female students from public & private school showing substantial self-worth of girls about themselves.