The Influence of Parental Bonding on Information Processing in Depression

Abstract

The cognitive perspective on risk for depression and depression reoccurrence posits that individuals who suffer from multiple episodes are at-risk because of latent depressotypic schemas. Dysfunctional parental bonding is one potential explanation for how such schemas are developed, and has also been associated with risk for depression. Thus, depressotypic schemas may provide some explanation for the relationship between parental bonding and depressive symptoms. The purpose of the current study was to examine whether those who have dysfunctional parental bonding, but are not currently depressed will show evidence of negative self-referent schemas in an information processing task. The current study also examined whether participant mood during this task was important for endorsement and recall during this information processing task. Measures of parental bonding, depression, anxiety, current mood, and a self-referent encoding task were administered to participants. Results showed that participants with high levels of mother care endorsed more positive words. Sad mood was also a predictor of endorsement; as sad mood decreased, endorsed positive words increased. This study helps elucidate the potential relationships between parental bonding, depressotypic schemas, and mood. Additionally, these findings provide insight into how those with dysfunctional bonding might be more at risk for depressive symptoms.