Perceptions of Parents and Partners and Men’s Depressive Symptoms

Abstract

Recent years have shown a marked growth in the literature examining the interpersonal context of depression. However, relatively little is known about the relational correlates of depression in men. The present study examined the relationships among men’s recollections of childhood rejection by parents, their adult attachment security in current romantic relationships, and self-reported depressive symptoms. A mediational model of the associations between the childhood and adulthood variables was evaluated in a community sample of men. This model hypothesized that childhood rejection is linked to depressive symptoms through an impact on adult attachment security. Perceived parental rejection, childhood physical abuse, and insecure adult attachment were all correlated with depressive symptoms at the zero-order level, and path analysis supported the mediational model. Adult attachment insecurity fully mediated the link between perceived maternal rejection and higher levels of depression. In addition, paternal rejection was directly associated with adult depressive symptoms. These findings underscore the importance of the interpersonal context in understanding men’s emotional functioning.