The Relationship Between Overprotection, Parental Harshness, and Neglect and the Spread of Negative Social Behavior: A Field Study on a Sample of Secondary School Students in Educational Institutions in Misurata

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the relationship between parental treatment styles—namely overprotection, harshness, and neglect—and the prevalence of negative social behavior among children. The study adopts a descriptive analytical approach using a social survey method. A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 162 male and female secondary school students in Misurata.

The findings revealed statistically significant relationships between certain parental styles and social behavior. Overprotection and neglect showed significant associations with behavioral outcomes, while harshness did not demonstrate a significant relationship with positive behavior. Additionally, the results indicated significant differences based on demographic variables such as gender and educational level, whereas no significant differences were found concerning age.

The study highlights the critical role of family upbringing in shaping children's social behavior and emphasizes the importance of adopting balanced parenting styles to promote positive behavioral development.