Abstract
In this study, the researchers investigated parent-child relationship as correlate of students' adjustment to secondary schools in Imo State. Two research questions were posed and two corresponding hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted the correlational research design involving simple linear method. The population of the study was 94,963 students from 296 public senior secondary schools in Imo State. Taro Yamane formula was used to select 398 students from 18 sampled schools within the study using multistage sampling procedure. Two rating scales were used to elicit information from the respondents and they include Parent Child Relationship Scale (PCRS) and Students’ Adjustment Scale (SAS) which contained 20 items and 15 items respectively. The scales were weighted using the 4 point Likert scale of Very High Extent (VHE), High Extent (HE), Low Extent (LE) and Very Low Extent. The instruments were validated by three research specialists in the Faculty of Education, Imo State University, Owerri. Reliability coefficients of 0.82 for PCRS and 0.79 for SAS were obtained using Cronbach Alpha statistics. Upon administration and collection of the filled copies of the instruments, the research questions were answered using Pearson “r” statistics while the hypotheses were tested using t-test of the significance of Pearson “r”. The result found that parental involvement and parental-child communication has high and positive significant relationship with students' social adjustment (e.g., peer relationships, social skills) in school. It was also found that children with authoritative parenting styles (high warmth, high expectations) exhibit fewer behavioral problems and better psychological adjustment in schools in Imo State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that parents should encourage open communication, actively listening to children's concerns. Also, the parents should practice authoritative parenting in order to inculcate their children with warmth, high expectations and consistent discipline to foster positive adjustment in schools

Keywords
Communication, Parent-child relationship, Parenting styles, Psychological adjustment and Social adjustment