Child, but Not Mother, Perceptions of Parenting Linked to Children’s Levels of Depression and Anxiety

Authors: Chandrima Kundu, Brandon E. Gibb

Field of Study: Psychology; Anthropology

Program Affiliation: Binghamton Mood Disorders Institute

Faculty Mentors: Brandon E. Gibb

Easel: 66

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Parenting styles are associated with the development of child psychopathology, with limited research on its moderators. This study examined links between different parenting behaviors and children’s symptoms of depression and anxiety to determine whether relations differed based on mother versus child report of parenting or based on children’s age and sex. Participants (n = 653) completed empirically-supported questionnaires. Results show that links between reports of negative parenting and symptoms were stronger for child than mother report, with most relations significant. However, while protectiveness was equally related to depression and anxiety, perceptions of warmth and authoritarianism were more strongly linked to depression. Some evidence indicated that relations with children’s symptoms of depression differed based on child age and sex, but only for mothers’ reports. Future research requires objective observer coding of parenting to determine whether clinical interventions should focus on improving parenting styles or on modifying children’s perceptions with cognitive restructuring.