Parental rearing styles and adolescent self-esteem: the mediating roles of body image

These findings underscore the importance of adopting nurturing, autonomy-supportive parenting strategies-especially maternal emotional warmth-to strengthen adolescents' body image and foster a healthier sense of self-worth. Educators, parents, and policymakers can leverage these insights to design family-focused interventions and school programs that promote positive body image, ultimately contributing to adolescents' psychological well-being. By emphasizing both maternal and paternal roles, stakeholders can more effectively safeguard and enhance adolescent self-esteem within diverse cultural contexts.