Conceptualizing Adolescents’ Autonomy: Parental Support and Adolescent’s Perception

This study explores a qualitative understanding regarding Vietnamese adolescents and parents’ conception of autonomy and perception of parental autonomy support. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with students at a middle school in Ho Chi Minh City and their parents respectively. The results indicate that Vietnamese adolescents and parents perceived autonomy as responsibility, self-expression, self-sufficient and decision making. Parental autonomy support implies control (in standards setting meaning), communication and support for decision making.

Keywords: Parenting, autonomy, relatedness, parental autonomy support.

Author
Dr. Khanh M. HOANG