The direct and indirect effects of couples’ attachment relationship on children’s depression

Abstract

The present study examined whether there is any direct or indirect association between couples’ attachment relationship and depressive symptoms experienced by their children. Having in mind the importance of the caregiving role of both mothers and fathers, the initial aim of the study was to collect data about the couple’s attachment relationship, from the two parents. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of fathers were unwilling to provide information regarding their attachment relationship. That’s why it was finally decided to collect data about the couple’s attachment from mothers only. For the same reason, only mothers’ parenting style was used as the mediating factor, in order to test any possible indirect effects, between couples’ attachment relationship and children’s depression. More specifically, three kinds of parenting style were examined, the authoritative, the authoritarian, and the permissive style. The results of the study revealed that mothers who experience higher levels of attachment anxiety tend to apply an authoritarian parenting style and this specific parenting style is significantly associated with higher depressive symptoms in children. Additionally, mothers who experience higher levels of attachment avoidance tend to behave in an authoritarian way towards their children, and this parenting style is also associated with higher depression in children.