Memories of Parental Rearing and Personality Pathology in Male Alcoholics

Abstract

In this study, the relation between memories of parental rearing and personality pathology is investigated in 81 male inpatient alcohol addicts. Memories of parental rearing styles were measured with the EMBU, a questionnaire of 65 items about paternal and maternal rearing. Personality pathology was measured with the Structured Interview for DSM-III Personality Disorders (SIDP), on the basis of which dimensional scores were obtained. Results indicated a positive correlation between rejection and favoring by mother on the one hand and the total score for personality pathology as measured with the SIDP on the other hand. The significant correlations with maternal rearing styles were different for different clusters. Personality pathology in the eccentric cluster was associated with a mother who was remembered as emotionally cold and rejecting. In case of pathology in the dramatic cluster, an association was found with favoring and rejecting. In the anxious-avoidant cluster no significant correlation was found. Significant correlations between paternal rearing styles and personality pathology were only found in the dramatic cluster: a positive correlation with rejection and favoring.