The Scaffolding of Self- Determination: A Comparative Analysis of Parental Attachment and Autonomous Agency in Controlled versus Autonomy Supportive Child-Rearing Environments

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of child-rearing environments, specifically controlled and autonomy supportive climates, on the levels of parental attachment and autonomous agency among emerging adults. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and Attachment Theory, this research utilized a quantitative-comparative design to analyze data from college students. Data were collected from a sample of 100 psychology students; 48 students were in the controlled child-rearing environment and 52 students were in autonomy-supported child-rearing environment. Standardized instruments were utilized to evaluate parental attachment (internal reliability, alpha = .884) and autonomous agency across different parenting climates. The data were analyzed via weighted means, independent samples t-tests, and Pearson product-moment correlation analysis. The descriptive analysis revealed a high level of attachment in controlled environments (weighted mean = 3.60) and a moderate level in autonomy-supportive environments (weighted mean = 3.33). However, the independent samples t-test indicated no statistically significant difference in attachment levels between the two groups (t = 2.314, p = .023, rejecting H0 at standard critical thresholds), suggesting that attachment bonds remain resilient despite restrictive parenting. Respondents from autonomy-supportive environments reported a Very High level of agency (weighted mean = 4.15), while those from controlled environments reported a High level (weighted mean = 3.71). A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups (t = -3.482, p = .001), confirming that autonomy-supportive climates meaningfully foster higher self-directed functioning. Pearson correlation revealed a weak, nonsignificant negative relationship between parental attachment and autonomous agency (r = -0.188, p = .061), a pattern that remained consistent across sub-group analyses for both maternal and paternal dimensions.