Perceived parental bonding styles and self-esteem: a study on adolescents in Dhaka division

Abstract

This study explored the current status of perceived parental bonding practices and their link to adolescents' self-esteem in Dhaka division, Bangladesh. Using a cross-sectional, correlational research design, data were collected from 254 participants using the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE). The Spearman’s rank-order correlation between self-esteem and overprotection dimensions revealed very weak correlations for paternal and maternal overprotection (r = .13, p < .05; r = .14, p < .05). A similar pattern was observed between self-esteem and the care dimension, with very weak associations for maternal and paternal care (r = .14, p < .05; r = .12, p < .05). Regarding the inter-dimensional correlation of PBI, a strong, significant correlation was found between paternal and maternal care (r = .73, p < .01). Mann-Whitney U test showed that males reported slightly higher self-esteem than females (male mean rank = 130.35; female mean rank = 124.31). A significant gender difference was found in paternal and maternal care (p < .05). A significant difference was found in the H test for perceived maternal overprotection only across the socio-economic status (p < .05). In a nonparametric ranked hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the PBI dimensions accounted for 4.6% of the variance in self-esteem, and no statistically significant predictor was found from PBI dimensions after controlling for gender and SES.

Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 35(2), 125-143, 2026 (July)