The Relationship Between Parenting Styles and Smoking Behavior Among Adolescents in Families with Working Parents

Abstract

Introduction: Smoking behavior among adolescents remains a public health concern and may be influenced by family, peer, and social environmental factors. Adolescence is a critical developmental stage characterized by identity formation and increased susceptibility to external influences. In families where both parents are employed, limited time for supervision and interaction may affect parenting practices and adolescent behavior. Therefore, examining the relationship between parenting styles and smoking behavior is important to support effective family-based prevention strategies. Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between parenting styles among working parents and smoking behavior among adolescents at one of high school in North Minahasa. Method: This study employed a quantitative approach with a correlational design and cross-sectional method. The participants were 191 students selected using total sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires measuring parenting styles and adolescent smoking behavior. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlation test. Result: The findings showed that neglectful parenting was the most dominant parenting style (40.84%). Most respondents reported that they did not smoke (63.4%), while 36.6% reported smoking behavior. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between parenting styles and smoking behavior among adolescents (p =<0.000; r = 0.416). The moderate positive correlation indicates that less appropriate parenting patterns were associated with a higher tendency toward smoking behavior among adolescents. Conclusion: Parenting style is significantly associated with smoking behavior among adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of parental involvement, supervision, communication, and emotional support, particularly in families with working parents. Parents are encouraged to maintain active involvement in their adolescents’ lives despite work-related responsibilities as part of efforts to prevent smoking behavior