THE THOUGHTS WITHIN: COGNITIVE STYLES AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN PERCEIVED PARENTING AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

Abstract

Given the high degree of comorbidity between depression and anxiety and their impact on quality of life, knowledge of shared and unique factors implicated in their development is critical. Although research has linked parenting behaviors and negative schemas with their development, little is known about how specific parenting behaviors affect schema development. The present study explored the relation between perceived parenting, dysfunctional attitudes about the self and anxiety, and aspects of affective symptomatology. Lower levels of parental care were associated with both dysfunctional attitudes and anxiety sensitivity, and parental overprotection was specifically associated with negative beliefs about anxiety. Although dysfunctional attitudes uniquely predicted symptoms of depression, beliefs about anxiety were nonspecific predictors of affective symptomatology. The present findings provide support for assessing specific elements of parenting, cognitive styles, and affective symptomatology independently. Implications for understanding the development of affective disorders and identification of targets for preventive and treatment interventions are discussed.