The relationships of parenting styles, self-esteem and rejection sensitivity: a latent profile analysis
5 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- 2Henan Experimental High School, Zhengzhou, China
- 3Department of Psychology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
- 4Shenzhen Futian Academy of Educational Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- 5The Third People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
Abstract
Background: A large number of theoretical reasoning and empirical studies have shown that both parenting style and self-esteem have an impact on the formation of rejection sensitivity, and there may be more complex mechanisms between the above variables. This study aims to explore the co-existing impacts of parenting style and self-esteem on rejection sensitivity.
Methods: It is a cross-sectional study and 1341 Chinese college students completed a questionnaire on parenting style, rejection sensitivity, and self-esteem. Latent profile Analysis (LPA) would be used to examine the model.
Results: The profiles of parenting effecting self-esteem showed a three-solution profile. Profile 1 (high parental control group) received highest parental control and lowest self-esteem. Profile 2 (medium parental control group) had moderate level of parenting styles and self-esteem. Profile 3 (low parental control group) had the lowest parental control, highest care, encouragement, and self-esteem. The profiles of parenting and self-esteem effecting rejection sensitivity also showed a three-solution profile. Profile 1a (high parental control and low self-esteem group) showed highest rejection sensitivity. Students in Profile 2a (low parent control and high self-esteem group) showed lowest rejection sensitivity. Students in 3a (moderate parental control and self-esteem group) received moderate levels of rejection sensitivity.
Conclusion: Current research has enriched our understanding of whether parenting styles and self-esteem coexist and how they affect rejection sensitivity. Provide empirical support to guide parents in educating their children, helping children improve self-esteem, and reducing rejection sensitivity.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05240-8.
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BibTeX
@article{guo2026relationships,
title = {{The relationships of parenting styles, self-esteem and rejection sensitivity: a latent profile analysis}},
author = {Ling Guo and Zilan Ye and Yonglin Huo and Xinyi Wu},
journal = {BMC Psychology},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s40359-026-05240-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05240-8},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The relationships of parenting styles, self-esteem and rejection sensitivity: a latent profile analysis
AU - Ling Guo
AU - Zilan Ye
AU - Yonglin Huo
AU - Xinyi Wu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/01
JO - BMC Psychology
DO - 10.1186/s40359-026-05240-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05240-8
AB - Background: A large number of theoretical reasoning and empirical studies have shown that both parenting style and self-esteem have an impact on the formation of rejection sensitivity, and there may be more complex mechanisms between the above variables. This study aims to explore the co-existing impacts of parenting style and self-esteem on rejection sensitivity. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study and 1341 Chinese college students completed a questionnaire on parenting style, rejection sensitivity, and self-esteem. Latent profile Analysis (LPA) would be used to examine the model. Results: The profiles of parenting effecting self-esteem showed a three-solution profile. Profile 1 (high parental control group) received highest parental control and lowest self-esteem. Profile 2 (medium parental control group) had moderate level of parenting styles and self-esteem. Profile 3 (low parental control group) had the lowest parental control, highest care, encouragement, and self-esteem. The profiles of parenting and self-esteem effecting rejection sensitivity also showed a three-solution profile. Profile 1a (high parental control and low self-esteem group) showed highest rejection sensitivity. Students in Profile 2a (low parent control and high self-esteem group) showed lowest rejection sensitivity. Students in 3a (moderate parental control and self-esteem group) received moderate levels of rejection sensitivity. Conclusion: Current research has enriched our understanding of whether parenting styles and self-esteem coexist and how they affect rejection sensitivity. Provide empirical support to guide parents in educating their children, helping children improve self-esteem, and reducing rejection sensitivity. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-026-05240-8.
SN - 2050-7283
ER -