Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies

The study examined the correlation between parenting styles and academic achievement of senior secondary school students in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Five research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The research employed correlational survey design. The population comprised 85,495 students in FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. The sample was three hundred and ninety eight (398) students using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table. A self-design questionnaire was used for the study. The questionnaire was titled: Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSQ). The reliability coefficient index of 0.87 was obtained using test-retest. The data collected were analyzed using mean scores, standard deviation, t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMCC). The findings showed there is significant correlation between authoritative parenting style and students' academic achievement in senior secondary schools in FCT, Abuja; There is significant correlation between authoritarian parenting style and students' academic achievement in FCT, Abuja; There is no significant correlation between permissive parenting style and students' academic achievement in FCT, Abuja; There is no significant correlation between permissive parenting style and students' academic achievement in FCT, Abuja; and there is no significant correlation between neglectful parenting style and students' academic achievement in FCT, Abuja. Based on their findings the study recommended that parents should adopt an authoritative parenting style which balances warmth and responsiveness which could go a long way in improving students academic achievement in senior secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory.