17106-3 Parenting Styles and Their Influence on Prosocial Tendencies Among Generation Z: A Quantitative Regression Study

Abstract

Generation Z was born into a period of rapid technological development that has affected patterns of human interaction. This situation has shaped Generation Z through digital influences and evolving parenting styles, particularly the rise of helicopter parenting. Helicopter parenting fosters dependence on parental direction and may affect emotional independence, an important factor in prosocial development. Prosocial tendencies refer to behaviors intended to improve the well-being of others, either directly or indirectly, without expecting rewards or recognition. The development of prosocial behavior is influenced by environment such as parenting style. This study examined the influence of parenting styles on prosocial behavior in Generation Z. A regression quantitative method was used. The participants consisted of 133 members of Generation Z, age 18-25 years old, selected through accidental sampling in Jakarta. The instruments used were the Parenting Style Questionnaire to assess parenting styles, and the Prosocial Tendency Measure (PTM) to assess prosocial tendencies. A linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of different parenting styles on prosocial tendencies. The results indicated that Authoritarian (R² = .265, p < .001), authoritative (R² = .281, p < .001), and permissive parenting (R² = .314, p < .001) each significantly predicted prosocial tendencies. All three parenting styles contributed positively, with permissive parenting explaining the largest variance. Furthermore, the finding that higher role of permissive parenting in predicting prosocial tendencies highlights the characteristics of Generation Z’s autonomy and freedom of expression may foster prosocial tendencies.