A STUDY OF PARENTING STYLES AND ITS IMPACT ON RISK TAKING BEHAVIOURS IN YOUNG ADOLESCENTS

Adolescence (from Latin word, adolescere, meaning ‘to grow up’) is a transitional stage of physical and
psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood. Adolescence
generally deals with age group of 10 to 21 years, divided into three stages; Early Adolescence- 10 to 13 years,
Middle Adolescence- 14 to 17 years, Late Adolescence- 18 to 21 years. Adolescence marks a rapid change in
one's role within a family. Young children tend to assert themselves forcefully, but are unable to demonstrate
much influence over family decisions until late adolescence, when they are increasingly viewed by parents as
equals. The adolescent faces the task of increasing independence while preserving a caring relationship with his
or her parents. When children go through puberty, there is often a significant increase in parent–child conflict
and a less cohesive familial bond. Arguments often concern minor issues of control, such as curfew, acceptable
clothing, and the adolescence right to privacy, which adolescents may have previously viewed as issues over
which their parents had complete authority.