PERCEIVED PARENTING STYLES AND FEAR OF NEGATIVE EVALUATION: A COMPARISON OF GIFTED AND NORMAL ADOLESCENT GIRLS

the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between parenting styles dimensions and fear of negative evaluation and to examine the differences between gifted and normal adolescent girls in these relations. In a survey study, the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale-Brief Form (Leary, 1983)) and Parenting styles Questionnaire (Schaefer,1965) were administered to 137 female high school students (34 gifted, 103 normal). The data were analyzed by correlation coefficient and z test. Results indicated that 1) there was a positive correlation between control dimension of parenting style and fear of negative evaluation, 2) no significant correlation was observed between warmth dimension and fear of negative evaluation, 3) in normal adolescents group, the control dimension had no significant relation with fear of negative evaluation, but this relation was positive and significant for gifted student group, 4) the z-test indicated no difference between the two groups. The findings suggested that the more control over the children, the more they will be sensitive to negative evaluation of others and this is more salient for gifted children.