Abstract
BACKGROUND: Parenting styles shape children's academic performance and psychological well-being, yet previous research has not distinguished the separate effects of fathers and mothers on boys and girls, nor has it examined the mediating role of social comparison in these relationships. OBJECTIVE: To examine gender-specific differences in the effects of fathers' and mothers' parenting styles and explore the mediating role of social comparison among Vietnamese high school students. DESIGN: A sample of Vietnamese high school students (N = 661) completed self-report measures assessing perceived parenting styles, social comparison, academic performance, and psychological distress levels. RESULTS: The findings revealed that while fathers' authoritative and authoritarian styles were not signiicantly associated with boys' academic performance, authoritarian parenting was linked to lower academic outcomes among girls. Fathers' permissive style showed a positive association with girls' academic performance but was also related to higher distress levels across both genders. For mothers, the authoritarian style appeared more detrimental to girls' academic outcomes than to boys', whereas the authoritative style was associated with lower distress only among girls. Regarding indirect effects, social comparison played a signiicant mediating role in several relationships, particularly for mothers' parenting. Specifically, mothers' authoritarian style was related to higher academic performance and greater distress through social comparison in both genders. Conversely, mothers' authoritative style improved boys' academic performance via social comparison, whereas fathers' permissive style was associated with improved academic performance among girls and increased distress across genders through the same mechanism. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive parenting interventions that consider the distinct roles of fathers and mothers in shaping academic and psychological outcomes. Additionally, promoting healthy social comparison strategies in schools may help mitigate distress and enhance students' academic motivation.