Parenting styles and parental self-efficacy as predictors of attitudes toward sexual education and inclusiveness

Rezumat

While parents’ attitudes toward sexual education have been widely examined, parents’ attitudes toward the inclusion of sexual and gender diversity in the school curriculum is insufficiently explored, particularly in Romania. The present study examined the role of parenting styles and parental self-efficacy in shaping parents’ attitudes toward sexual education and inclusiveness. A sample of 228 parents, predominantly mothers (79.8%; Mage = 29.70, SD = 8.90) completed self-report measures assessing parenting styles, parental self-efficacy, and attitudes toward sexual education and inclusiveness. The results indicated that authoritarian parenting style was the only significant negative predictor toward both sexual education and inclusiveness. These findings highlight the importance of identifying the determinants of parental attitudes and support efforts to promote more inclusive educational environments.