Relationships between self-esteem, a sense of competence, and perceived parenting styles and adolescent mental health

Introduction : Adolescence is a critical developmental stage characterized by numerous psychological and physical changes that influence mental health. Individual factors such as self-confidence and a sense of competence, along with environmental factors such as perceived parenting styles, play a significant role in adolescents’ mental well-being. These considerations highlight the importance of investigating this topic. Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the relationships between self-confidence, a sense of competence, and perceived parenting styles and the mental health of secondary school adolescents in Nowshahr, Iran. Methods : This study employed a descriptive–correlational research design. The statistical population consisted of 1,715 secondary school students in Nowshahr during the 2024–2025 academic year, from which a sample of 317 students was selected via a convenience sampling method. Data were collected via the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965), the Javidan Adolescent Sense of Competence Questionnaire (2015), Grolnick’s Perceived Parenting Scale (1997), and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) (2006). Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analyses were performed to determine the strength and direction of the relationships among the study variables. Results : The findings indicated that self-confidence and a sense of competence were positively and significantly associated with adolescents’ mental health. Specifically, higher levels of self-confidence (p < 0/05, r = − 0/659) and sense of competence (p < 0/05, r = − 0/592) were related to better psychological well-being. In addition, supportive and participatory parenting styles had a positive effect on adolescents’ mental health (p < 0/05) and were associated with lower levels of psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Adolescents who perceived their parents as using supportive and participatory parenting styles experienced more favourable mental health outcomes. Conclusion : The findings suggest that enhancing adolescents’ self-confidence and sense of competence, along with the adoption of supportive and participatory parenting styles, can contribute to the promotion of adolescents’ mental health and play a preventive role in reducing psychological disorders during this critical developmental period. Therefore, these results may serve as a basis for designing educational and counselling programs in schools and families to improve adolescents’ psychological well-being and prevent mental health problems.