Predicting Identity Styles based on the Relationship between Perceived Parenting and Girls' Negative Attitude towards their Fathers

This study sought to predict identity styles based on the relationship between perceived parenting and girls’ negative attitude towards their fathers. The research method was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population of the study comprised all 11th graders and pre-university students enrolled in public schools in Karaj in 2015-16 school year. Utilizing multistage cluster sampling method, a total number of 230 students were selected. Then, the participants responded to Identity Style Inventory (Berzonsky, 1992), Parental Perception Questionnaire (Schaefer), and Childchr('39')s Attitude toward Father Scale (Hudson, 1992). For the purpose of data analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate hierarchical regression were used. The results demonstrated that there was a significant, negative association between girlschr('39') negative attitude toward father and informational and normative identity styles; whereas a significant, positive correlation was observed between negative attitudes toward father and diffuse-avoidant identity style. Furthermore, the results showed that from among the dimensions of perceived parenting (love-rejection, control-freedom), only control-freedom dimension could positively predict informational and normative identity styles. On the other hand, love-rejection dimension could negatively predict diffuse-avoidant identity style. Accordingly, it can be stated that the more positive the girls’ attitude toward their fathers, the more likely they will be successful in finding true identity. It was also found that parental control played a significant role in the development of positive identity.