Aileen Sze Yan Tan
Emerging adulthood is a phase characterised by the concurrent life changes individuals experience as they begin to discover the responsibilities of adulthood independently. Research has shown that childhood parenting practices significantly affect emerging adult well-being and family functioning, which are essential to positive adjustment during the instability of this transition period. However, few studies have examined the effects of Asian parenting on such outcomes. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of childhood parental support and control on the well-being and family functioning of Malaysian emerging adults. Using a correlational study, 252 Malaysians, aged 18 to 25 (M = 21.36, SD = 1.92), were recruited via convenience sampling to participate in an online survey measuring experienced childhood parenting styles, well-being, and family functioning. Results showed that childhood parental support positively predicted emerging adult well-being and family functioning but found no relationship between parental control and the outcome variables or gender differences in well-being. An interesting relationship between family functioning and well-being was also found, where family functioning emerged as the only significant predictor of positive well-being when compared to parental support. These findings indicate the crucial role of a supportive family system in childhood on psychological well-being, the effects extending even to emerging adulthood.