Objective: to analyze the current perspectives in the study of parental rearing styles and the variables related to those styles. Method: a systematic review of the literature in this regard was performed. To do this, we selected articles published in psychology journals that are indexed in electronic databases, through the adoption of predetermined criteria. We included texts that were review articles, research reports, and psychometric studies with the tools of evaluation of the variable in study. Results: the categories identified, analyzed and theorized were as follows: approaches in the study of parenting styles, parenting styles categories, parenting styles and types of families, parenting styles and relations with other variables and perspectives in the study of parental rearing styles. Conclusions: in this theoretical review we identified five categories of analysis essential to the understanding of the subject being studied.