Common Methods of Parental Treatment and its Relation with Alienation Among Adolescent Children in The Higher Elementary Stage in Jerusalem Governorate

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the level of common parental treatments and its relation with alienation among adolescent children in the higher elementary stage in Jerusalem governorate. The study also sought to identify the significances of the differences between the means of the study subjects’ responses at the level of common parental treatments and alienation according to the following variables: gender, grade, academic achievement, and educational level of the father and the mother. The study adopted the descriptive correlational methodology. The study population consisted of 2304 (male and female) students. A stratified random sample was selected from the study population in accordance with gender and grade level. The sample total was 240 (male and female) students, and the researcher used parental treatment scale and alienation scale as study tools. Results showed that the level of parental treatments varied between high for the authoritative treatment, average for authoritarian treatment and low for permissive treatment. Moreover, the level of alienation among students scored average. Results also indicated a positive correlation between alienation and each of the authoritarian and permissive treatments. However, there was a negative correlation between alienation and authoritative treatment. The study indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the scale of parental treatment in the permissive and authoritative treatments according to variables of gender and father’s educational level. However, there were significant statistical differences in the scale of parental treatment in the authoritarian treatment according to father’s educational level and gender variables in favor of males. There were significant statistical differences in the parental treatment according to grade and academic achievement variables. There were no statistical significant differences in the parental treatment according to level of education of the mother. Results showed that there were no significant statistical differences in alienation according to variables of gender and father’s level of education as well as that of the mother. There were significant statistical differences in alienation according to variables of grade and academic achievement. Based on the study outcomes, the researcher recommended that it was essential to establish guidance programs to lower the level of alienation among adolescents and to assist adolescent student to develop a mature and stable character through dispelling parental maltreatments and assisting in overcoming problems.