Unconditional Positive Self-Regard: The Role of Perceived Parental Conditional Regard

This study investigated Rogerian unconditional positive self-regard (UPSR) among young adults. Based on the findings of extant research in support of the Rogerian metatheoretcial model, variables were selected based on the fully functioning person to represent characteristics predictive of UPSR. Using hierarchical regression, UPSR was assessed with young adults aged 16 to 19 years (x̄ = 16.87). Participants completed emotional self-assessments (Block 1: depression, anxiety, and self-esteem), humanistic/positive psychology construct assessments (Block 2: authenticity, life satisfaction, aspirations), and a measure of perceived parental conditional regard (Block 3: domain-specific perceptions of parental conditional regard [PPCR]). Analyses revealed that each block of variables significantly accounted for the variance in UPSR. All scores (except PPCR-Sport) had significant zero-order correlations with UPSR, however when considered together this was no longer the case due to the significant intercorrelations of the predictor variables. Overall, the following significant predictors of unconditional positive self-regard among young adults emerged: self-esteem, authentic living, accepting external influence, life satisfaction, importance of intrinsic motivations, and perceived parental conditional regard on academic success. Implications are explored.