DefinePK

Abstract

The present study was carried out to investigate whether self-esteem of adolescents in N.W.F.P. (Pakistan) varies directly with perceived maternal acceptance-rejection. It was assumed that significant mean differences in Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (Haque, 1981) as well as Self-esteem Questionnaire (Rohner, Saaverda, & Granum, 1980) scores will be found between adolescents recalling their step-mothers as being low warm (high scorers) as compared to adolescents recalling their mothers being high warm (low scorers). The sample consisted of /00 adolescents including an equal number of boys and girls from monogamous (both-parent) families and polygamous (step-parent) families. Significant differences in attitude of mothers and step-mothers were found. Compared to polygamous families, subjects in monogamous families have high self-esteem.