Objective This is an empirical study that examined the impact of parenting style, peer relationship on learned helplessness among 120 university students aged 18 to 23 years (M=19.7) from Sunway University, Malaysia.

Methodology/Technique A survey was conducted to collect the data. Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) was used to measure parenting style, while the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA) was used to measure peer relationship and Helplessness Behaviour Questionnaire (HBQ) was used to measure learned helplessness.

Findings Findings of the study revealed no significant relationship between parenting style and learned helplessness behaviour. However, there was a negative and significant relationship between peer relationship and learned helplessness behaviour. The study, therefore revealed the significant effect of peer relationship on learned helplessness among the sample of the study irrespective of gender.

Novelty The paper, hence highlighted the importance of peer relationship in the planning of educational curriculum for adolescents. Later studies may examine the effect of other socio-environmental factors on learned helplessness behaviour.

Type of Paper Empirical paper

Keywords: Learned Helplessness; Parenting Style; Peer Relationship; Education.