Assisting adolescents in cultivating a positive self-concept and leading fulfilling lives is paramount. Supported by longitudinal data from 512 Chinese adolescents, the researchers investigated not only the reciprocal associations between two types of self-concept—academic and physical abilities—and life satisfaction but also the roles of perceived parenting qualities in impacting these dynamics. Results revealed the following: (a) academic (but not physical ability) self-concept had a reciprocal relationship with life satisfaction; (b) perceived parental warmth (rather than autonomy support), rejection, and psychological control significantly predicted self-concept and life satisfaction and have the potential to steer adolescents into a virtuous or vicious cycle in terms of evaluating themselves and their lives. Findings offer valuable insights for fostering self-concept and life satisfaction among adolescents within the framework of parenting qualities and the cultural and social milieu of adolescent growth.
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