Parenting styles, extrinsic religious orientation, and anxiety among research university students in Malaysia

This conceptual paper examines the mediating role of extrinsic religious orientation in the relationship between parenting styles and anxiety among research university students in Malaysia. Using a narrative literature review approach, it positions extrinsic religiosity a form of religious involvement driven by external or utilitarian motives as a key psychological and sociocultural factor influencing how parenting practices affect anxiety outcomes. While the direct effects of parenting styles on mental health have been well documented, limited attention has been given to the mechanisms through which these effects occur, particularly in diverse cultural and religious settings like Malaysia. The paper critiques dominant psychological models that focus on direct causality, arguing that they overlook the complex interactions between family dynamics and belief systems. Extrinsic religiosity may act as a coping strategy or psychosocial filter that mediates the impact of parenting, potentially intensifying or mitigating anxiety depending on context. The influence of cultural norms, religious practices, and individual differences underscores the importance of a more nuanced understanding. Existing frameworks such as attachment theory and multidimensional models of religiosity provide useful starting points but fall short of capturing these indirect pathways. Therefore, the paper advocates for future empirical studies to explore this mediating role in greater depth, aiming to inform culturally sensitive approaches to mental health interventions for university students in Malaysia.

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