Citation

Mohamed Kadri, Nurul Hidayah Hanani and Wan Ahmad Faizal, Wan Nurin Safiyya and Kamarudin, Syafila (2025) To share, or not to share? The effects of parenting communication styles and sharenting on young adults’ mental health. SEARCH Journal of Media and Communication Research, 17 (5). pp. 85-99. ISSN 2672-7080

Text SEARCH-2025-P6-17-CLESS2024.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (264kB)

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of parents sharing their children’s personal information on social media, known as sharenting, has raised concerns about its potential impact on young adults’ privacy, autonomy, and mental health. Despite growing scholarly interest, research examining the consequences of sharenting on young adults’ mental health remains limited. Grounded in Baumrind’s Theory of Parenting Styles, this study investigates the relationship between parenting communication styles, sharenting practices, and the mental health of Malaysian young adults. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 205 respondents through purposive sampling. The findings reveal that parenting styles significantly influence young adults’ mental health, with authoritative and permissive parenting showing positive associations, while authoritarian and neglectful parenting being linked to poorer mental health outcomes. However, sharenting did not have a significant direct effect, suggesting the need for further exploration of factors such as cultural attitudes, digital literacy, and frequency of exposure. These findings highlight the critical role of parenting communication styles in shaping mental well-being and emphasise the importance of mindful digital parenting. Future research should expand on these findings by incorporating more diverse samples, longitudinal designs, and qualitative approaches to capture a deeper understanding of the evolving parent-child dynamic in the digital age. © SEARCH Journal 2025.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Digital exposure, digital parenting, parenting communication style, Sharenting, social media
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > HQ503-1064 The family. Marriage. Home > HQ755.7-759.92 Parents. Parenthood Including parent and child, husbands, fathers, wives, mothers
Divisions:	Faculty of Applied Communication (FAC)
Depositing User:	Ms Suzilawati Abu Samah
Date Deposited:	29 Jul 2025 06:28
Last Modified:	01 Aug 2025 04:39
URII:	http://shdl.mmu.edu.my/id/eprint/14399

Downloads

Edit (login required)