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Depression and Perceptions of Early Parenting: a Longitudinal Investigation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ian H. Gotlib*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario
John H. Mount
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario
Nikkie I. Cordy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St Joseph's Hospital
Valerie E. Whiffen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario
*
Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5C2

Abstract

It has been suggested that the quality of early parenting received by depressed adults is more negative than that received by non-depressed people. Since perceptions of parenting are usually examined only when subjects are depressed, depressed subjects' negative reports may be distortions due to their depression, rather than accurate recollections. In the present study, both depressed and remitted women reported experiencing greater parental overprotection than did non-depressed women, but only depressed subjects also reported less parental caring. The results are discussed with respect to the early experiences of depressed individuals, the distinction between parental caring and over protection, and the importance of interpersonal factors associated with depression.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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