Paternal Overprotection Research Articles

Attachment Styles and Parenting Attitudes in Adults With "Pseudo-Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder".

Background The number of individuals who experience the onset of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-like symptoms after the age of 12 years has been growing, which does not meet the diagnostic criteria for adult ADHD. We designated this condition as "pseudo-ADHD" and investigated its psychological implications by comparing the parenting attitudes in childhood and attachment styles among individuals with "pseudo-ADHD," those with adult ADHD, and healthy controls. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of adults aged 18 years. Participants in the analysis included individuals with "pseudo-ADHD" (n = 46), adults with ADHD (n = 23), and healthy controls (n = 758). The Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was used to evaluate parenting attitudes, and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory for the Generalized Other (ECR-GO) was used to evaluate attachment styles. One-way analysis of variance was performed to compare the PBI and ECR-GO scores among the three groups. Results Regarding the PBI scores, a significant main effect of group was found for the paternal care scores (p = 0.002), and the "pseudo-ADHD" group did not differ significantly from the adult ADHD group or healthy control group (p = 0.378, p = 0.228, respectively). A significant main effect of the group was found for the maternal care scores (p < 0.001). The "pseudo-ADHD" group scored significantly lower than the adult ADHD group (p = 0.005), whereas there was no significant difference compared to the healthy control group (p = 1.000). A significant main effect of the group was also found for the paternal overprotection scores (p < 0.001). The "pseudo-ADHD" group scored significantly lower than the adult ADHD group (p = 0.002), whereas there was no significant difference compared to the healthy control group (p = 0.571). A significant main effect of group was found for the maternal overprotection scores (p < 0.001), and the "pseudo-ADHD" group did not differ significantly from either the adult ADHD group or the healthy control group (p = 0.060, p = 0.161, respectively). Regarding ECR-GO scores, a significant main effect of group was found for the fear of abandonment score (p < 0.001), and the "pseudo-ADHD" group scored significantly lower than the adult ADHD group (p < 0.001) and significantly higher than the healthy control group (p = 0.005). Conclusion This study suggested that the parenting attitudes of parents of individuals with "pseudo-ADHD" were not different from those of the healthy controls. For attachment styles, the fear of abandonment was higher in individuals with "pseudo-ADHD" than in healthy controls, but not as high as in patients with adult ADHD. This study highlights, for the first time, the importance of considering attachment styles in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with ADHD symptoms in adulthood.

Parental care and overprotection predict worry and anxiety symptoms in emerging adult students

Anxiety disorders represent a prevalent mental health concern, with escalating rates, especially among emerging adults. University students, in particular, face a myriad of academic and life stressors that can amplify feelings of worry and anxiety. While early parental bonding seem to predict anxiety disorders later in life, the applicability to emerging adult students and its applicability to predict sub-clinical and transdiagnostic anxiety features remain unclear. This study aims to examine i) the relationship between demographic variables and key features of anxiety disorders (i.e., worry and anxiety symptoms); and ii) the predictive association between early parental bonding and anxiety-related features. A sample of 370 university students in Italy (n = 279 females; M age = 20.84 years, SD age = 1.81 years) completed the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Females reported higher levels of worry and anxiety compared to males. Significantly higher worry and anxiety symptoms were reported by individuals who experienced affectionless control (low care and high overprotection) as compared to those exposed to optimal parenting (high care and low overprotection). Predictive models indicated that scores of parental care (i.e., the principal component between maternal and paternal care scores) and parental overprotection (i.e., the principal component between maternal and paternal overprotection scores) are robust predictors of worry and anxiety symptoms. However, this relationship showed a gender-specific pattern: lower parental care was more significant in predicting anxiety features in males, while high overprotection was more significant in females. The findings contribute to the comprehension of the risk factors influencing the susceptibility of emerging adult students to anxiety disorders.

Influence of perceived parental child-rearing attitudes and ego identity on college adjustment among Korean nursing students

BackgroundThis study aimed to examine the relationship between nursing students’ perceived parental child-rearing attitude, ego identity, and college adjustment in Korea and explore factors that influence college adjustment.MethodsThis study surveyed 224 nursing students enrolled in universities located in two regions within South Korea. Data were collected from October 14 to November 31, 2019. Perceived parental child-rearing attitude (paternal emotional warmth, paternal rejection, paternal overprotection, maternal emotional warmth, maternal rejection, and maternal overprotection) and ego identity of nursing students were used as independent variables on college adjustment. Collected data were subjected to correlation analysis using SPSS version 26.0 for Windows. Further, regression analysis was performed on the influence of parental child-rearing attitude and ego identity on college adjustment.ResultsAmong the parental child-rearing attitudes, paternal emotional warmth (r = .30, p < .001), maternal emotional warmth (r = .38, p < .001), and ego identity (r = .71, p < .001) were positively correlated with nursing students’ college adjustment, whereas maternal rejection was negatively correlated with ego identity (r = − .28, p < .001) and college adjustment (r = − .15, p = .025). Regression analysis of the effects of nursing students’ perceived parental child-rearing attitude and ego identity on college adjustment, with grade as a control variable, revealed that ego identity (p < .001) had a significant effect on college adjustment, and the higher the ego identity (β = 0.712), the higher the college adjustment. Further, the explanatory power of explaining college adjustment was high at 49.9%.ConclusionsThe nursing students’ perceived paternal emotional warmth, maternal emotional warmth, and ego identity were positively correlated with college adjustment. Additionally, ego identity was found as the influencing factor in Korean nursing students’ college adjustment. Therefore, programs to strengthen ego identity should be developed and implemented for college adjustment among nursing students.

Effects of parenting style on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their comorbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown among 3117 Chinese junior high school students

IntroductionDepressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and comorbidity increased in junior high school students due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The objective of this study was to measure the impacts of parenting style on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and their comorbidity in Chinese junior high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period. MethodsAn online survey was conducted in June 2020 among 3117 junior high school students from Shandong Province, China. The Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran scale was used to measure parenting styles. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire scale and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale were used to measure depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted with SPSS 25.0 Version. Results3117 junior school students enrolled in this study. The prevalence of depressive symptoms only, anxiety symptoms only, and comorbidity among junior high school students was 11.55 %, 5.29 %, and 22.97 %. Paternal over-protection was a risk factor not only for depressive symptoms only (OR = 1.075, 95 % CI = 1.020–1.134) but for anxiety symptoms only (OR = 1.090, 95 % CI = 1.016–1.170) and comorbidity (OR = 1.098, 95 % CI = 1.050–1.148). Paternal over-interference was a protective factor for depressive symptoms only (OR = 0.947, 95 % CI = 0.908–0.987) and comorbidity (OR = 0.953, 95 % CI = 0.921–0.986). However, maternal over-interference and over-protection were risk factors for depressive symptoms only (OR = 1.039, 95 % CI = 1.011–1.068). LimitationsThis was a cross-sectional study and the causal inferences could not be conducted. ConclusionsJunior high school students with poorer family environmental factors were more likely to suffer from the comorbidity of anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Decision-makers from the government, educational, and healthcare institutions should pay more attention to junior high school students at higher risk of mental disorders due to poor parenting styles. We should discuss family interventions in the future to prevent mental disorders in junior high school students.

Inadequate care and excessive overprotection during childhood are associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus in adulthood in a general Japanese population: a cross-sectional analysis from the Hisayama Study

ObjectiveTo investigate associations between parenting styles during childhood and diabetes in adulthood in a Japanese community.MethodsIn 2011, 710 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged ≥ 40 years were assessed for the presence of diabetes and for their perceptions of the parenting style of their parents, as measured using the “care” and “overprotection” scales of the Parental Bonding Instrument. Care and overprotection scores for each parent were dichotomized by age-specific median values. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a fasting plasma glucose level of ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, a 2-h post-loaded glucose level of ≥ 11.1 mmol/L, HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, and/or the current use of insulin or oral glucose-lowering agents. The odds ratios (ORs) for prevalent diabetes were calculated using a logistic regression model.ResultsThe prevalence of diabetes was 14.9%. Subjects with a high paternal overprotection score had a significantly greater likelihood of prevalent diabetes than those with a low paternal overprotection score after adjusting for confounders (OR 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–2.77), while there was no significant association between paternal care and diabetes. Additionally, the multivariable-adjusted ORs for the presence of diabetes were significantly higher in subjects with a low maternal care score (OR 1.61, 95%CI 1.00–2.60) or in subjects with a high maternal overprotection score (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.08–2.80). Moreover, the subjects with a low care score and high overprotection score for both their father and mother had a significantly higher multivariable-adjusted OR of diabetes than those with a high care score and low overprotection score for both parents (OR 2,12, 95%CI 1.14–3.95).ConclusionsThis study suggests that inadequate care and excessive overprotection during childhood may contribute to the development of diabetes in adulthood.

Comparing youth with and without type 1 diabetes on perceived parenting and peer functioning: a propensity weighting approach.

The premise of this study was to gain more insight into whether type 1 diabetes (T1D) can impact how youth perceive parents and peers. To address limitations of previous observational studies comparing youth with T1D to control youth, propensity weighting was used to mimic a randomized controlled trial. A total of 558 youth with T1D and 426 control youth (14-26y) completed questionnaires on parental responsiveness, psychological control, overprotection, friend support, extreme peer orientation, and a host of background and psychological functioning variables. The groups were statistically weighted to become as comparable as possible except for disease status. The analysis plan and hypotheses were preregistered on the open science framework. Youth with T1D perceived their mothers to be more overprotective, perceived fewer friend support, and were less extremely oriented toward peers than control youth. There were no group differences for paternal overprotection and paternal and maternal responsiveness and psychological control. Mothers of youth with T1D seem at risk to practice overprotective parenting and clinicians could play an important role in making mothers aware of this risk. However, the absence of group differences for the maladaptive parenting dimension of psychological control and adaptive dimension of responsiveness are reassuring and testify to the resilient nature of youth with T1D and their families. Additionally, there is accumulating evidence that T1D could interfere with engaging in supportive friendships.

Design of a regression model to predict the presence of depression during pregnancy based on emotional intelligence, parental care, anxiety and stress

Background: Emotion regulation involves the modulation of emotional experiences to facilitate goal attainment. Conversely, emotional difficulties are a pattern of emotional experiences and expressions that interfere with goal-directed behavior. Objectives: Design a new model to predict the presence of depression in women during pregnancy. Methods: Non-experimental, cross-sectional, explanatory study of depression in women during pregnancy (logistic regression) considering the variables emotional intelligence, parental care, anxiety and stress. The sample consisted of 273 pregnant women-mothers between 14 and 38 weeks pregnant, aged between 18 and 38 years, for a mean of 25.67 years (SD= 5.8). Results: The regression model is valid and significant in predicting the probability of occurrence of depression, explaining 82.4% of the variance of DV (Presence of depression) by the variables age, clarity and repair of depression dimensions. emotional intelligence, the maternal and paternal overprotection dimensions, and paternal care of the parental style variables; stress, work and single marital status. There is a 95.2% probability of success in the depression result when each of the model variables is incorporated. Conclusions: The best predictors of depression in pregnancy would be, on the one hand, higher levels or values of the variables and indicators age, reparation, maternal overprotection, paternal care, and stress, and on the other hand, low scores in the dimensions and values of clarity variables, and paternal overprotection; added to whether the woman works and is single. This combination of variables would be the individual and contextual conditions that influence said appearance.

Interpersonal sensitivity mediates the effects of perceived parenting styles on state anxiety and negative assessment of life events in adult volunteers from the community.

The association of parenting experiences in childhood with anxiety symptoms in adulthood has yet to be clarified. We hypothesized that interpersonal sensitivity (IPS) mediates the impacts of parenting experiences in childhood on anxiety symptoms and negative assessment of life events in adulthood. An observational cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2014 to August 2014 on 853 adults. Participants provided their demographic information and answered the following four self-administered questionnaires: Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), Life Experiences Survey (LES), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y). The data of a total of 404 participants who agreed to take part in this study were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis with the State Anxiety subscale of STAI-Y as the dependent variable identified the following five out of the 15 independent variables as being statistically significant: IPSM total, LES positive and negative, PBI paternal overprotection, and employment status. This model explains 17.8% of the State Anxiety subscale score. In the structural equation models, the Care subscale showed significant indirect negative effects on State Anxiety subscale and LES negative score through a decrease in IPSM total score (β = -0.061 and -0.042, respectively). The former indirect effect accounted for 31.6%, and the latter accounted for 56.8% of the total effects. In contrast, Overprotection subscale had opposite effects to Care subscale. These results suggest that parenting experiences in childhood are related to adult anxiety symptoms and the negative assessment of life events indirectly through IPS.

Overprotective parenting and social anxiety in adolescents: The role of emotion regulation

The present study sought to examine the underlying mechanisms through which overprotective parenting relates to social anxiety symptoms in adolescents. Specifically, we tested whether the adolescents’ emotion regulation strategies of dysregulation, suppression, and integration, played an intervening role in the association between perceived maternal and paternal overprotection and social anxiety symptoms in adolescents. A sample of 278 Swiss adolescents filled out questionnaires assessing perceived overprotective parenting, social anxiety symptoms and emotion regulation. Results indicated that perceived overprotective parenting was significantly associated with adolescents’ social anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, structural equation modeling analyses indicated that emotional dysregulation, in particular, intervenes in the association between both maternal and paternal overprotection and social anxiety. These findings highlight emotion regulation difficulties as a potential mechanism underlying the association between parental overprotection and social anxiety, suggesting that adolescents’ maladaptive emotion regulation strategies as well as overprotecting parenting could be targeted when treating social anxiety symptoms.

Perinatal Depression and Anxiety Symptoms, Parental Bonding and Dyadic Sensitivity in Mother–Baby Interactions at Three Months Post-Partum

The quality of the early parent-infant relationship is crucial for the child's optimal development, and parental sensitivity plays a key role in early interactions. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of maternal perinatal depression and anxiety symptoms on dyadic sensitivity at three months post-partum, also considering a large set of maternal and infant variables. At the third trimester of pregnancy (T1) and at three months postpartum (T2), 43 primiparous women filled in a set of questionnaires evaluating symptoms of depression (CES-D) or anxiety (STAI), the woman's parental bonding experiences (PBI), alexithymia (TAS-20), maternal attachment to the baby (PAI, MPAS) and the perceived social support (MSPSS). At T2 mothers also completed a questionnaire on infant temperament and took part in the CARE-Index videotaped procedure. Dyadic sensitivity was predicted by higher maternal trait anxiety scores in pregnancy. In addition, the mother's experience of being cared for by her father in childhood was predictive of her infant's lower compulsivity, while paternal overprotection predicted higher unresponsiveness. The results highlight the influence of perinatal maternal psychological well-being and maternal childhood experiences on the quality of the dyadic relationship. The results may be useful to foster mother-child adjustment during the perinatal period.

Hypermethylation of the serotonin transporter gene and paternal parenting styles in untreated anorexia nervosa patients: A pilot study

PurposeIt has been reported that serotonergic systems and parenting styles are involved in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa (AN). The present study made attempts to examine the DNA methylation profiles in the promoter region of serotonin transporter (5-HTT) encoding gene SLC6A4, and explore the association between the methylation level and severity of symptoms, 5-HTT linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotypes and parenting styles in untreated Chinese Han AN patients. MethodsNinety-one untreated female AN patients (ANs) and eighty-seven matched healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed for DNA methylation status at CpG islands in the promoter region of SLC6A4 using MassARRY EpiTYPER, and genotypes of 5-HTTLPR using PCR-RFLP. The severity of eating disorder (ED) symptoms was evaluated by body mass index (BMI) and Questionnaire Version of the Eating Disorders Examination (EDE-Q 6.0), and part of participants were assessed parenting styles using the short Chinese Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostra (s-EMBU-C). ResultsANs had greater methylation levels at CpG26.27.28, CpG 31.32, and CpG 37 than HCs (P = 0.039, 0.042, 0.018 respectively). A positive association of methylation level at CpG26.27.28 with ED symptoms detected by EDEQ-6.0 was discovered in AN group (r = 0.216, P = 0.047). Methylation level at CpG26.27.28 was showed to be or tend to be positively correlated with the parenting styles of paternal rejection (r = 0.425, P = 0.038) and paternal overprotection (r = 0.362, P = 0.062) in ANs. No significant differences were found in SLC6A4 promoter region methylation levels among 5-HTTLPR genotypes in our samples (P > 0.05) and no interaction effect between 5-HTTLPR genotypes and parenting styles on SLC6A4 promoter region methylation was observed (P > 0.05). ConclusionsThis study suggested that hypermethylation of SLC6A4 promoter region may be implicated in the pathological mechanisms of untreated Chinese Han female ANs, which is possibly associated with poor parenting styles. This finding may provide a direction for the epigenetic and family treatments for ANs and further investigation with larger samples is warranted.

Parental bonding in retrospect and adult attachment style: A comparative study between Spanish, Italian and Japanese cultures.

Attachment is an innate human relational mechanism that develops progressively from early childhood, influences individuals' representations and behaviors, shapes relationships, and affects the social and cultural environment. Parental bonding refers to the ability of parents to be emotionally and behaviorally available to the child during infancy. Attachment style refers to the individual's relational attitude in close relationships that influences adult love, bonding, handling relationships, and social exploration. The role of intergenerational, cultural and developmental factors influencing the relationship between the attachment style in adulthood and the parental bonding style recalled during childhood has been debated. This study explores the relationships between recalled parental bonding, adult attachment style, and cultural background in a sample of Spanish, Italian, and Japanese adults using a cross-sectional and cross-cultural design. For this purpose, the validated versions of the Experience in Close Relationship Scale and the Parental Bonding Instrument were administered to a non-clinical population of three hundred and five participants in the three countries. Results show that the most frequent adult attachment style is the secure style, followed by the dismissing-avoidant, the preoccupied, and the fearful-avoidant style. The dismissing-avoidant style was the most frequent insecure attachment style in the Japanese sample whereas the preoccupied style was the most frequent insecure attachment style in the Italians and Spaniards. Japanese are more anchored to the memory of maternal and paternal overprotection, which is related to more avoidance in actual close relationships. Spaniard's current relationships are mildly independent of recalled parental bonding, showing an association between lower current avoidance to primary parental care. In the Italian sample, there is no significant relationship between current adult close relationships and recalled parental bonding. These results suggest that different cultural models influence adult attachment representations differently, in terms of the weight placed on attachment-related avoidance, attachment-related anxiety, care, and overprotection in infant and adult relationships.

Alexithymia and Parental Bonding in Women with Genitopelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder.

The role of emotion regulation and alexithymia in the pathophysiology of genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) is emphasized. Parental bonding is linked to emotion regulation and alexithymia. This study aimed to examine the relationships between parental bonding, alexithymia, and GPPPD. Sixty-four patients with GPPPD were enrolled in the study, and 60 controls were matched for demographic features. Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to evaluate alexithymia, the Bonding to Parents Scale (BPS) was used to assess parental bonding, and sexual functions were assessed via Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). The rate of alexithymic traits was statistically higher in the GPPPD group than in the controls (p = 0.005). Patients with GPPPD obtained higher scores on the maternal care/control (p = 0.003) and maternal overprotection (p = 0.008) compared to controls. Difficulty describing feelings factor of alexithymia (p = 0.012) emerged as a predictor of group membership (GPPPD vs controls). To test whether alexithymia was significantly associated with parental bonding, all subjects were divided into two subgroups, alexithymic and non-alexithymic. When the subgroups were compared in terms of parental attitudes, maternal (p = 0.034) and paternal (p = 0.006) overprotection subscale scores were higher in the alexithymic group than in the non-alexithymic group. According to the results, alexithymic traits are characteristic of patients with GPPPD; however, although patients with GPPPD may experience difficulties with perceived parental bonding, this factor does not appear to be a predictor of GPPPD.

Father-daughter and mother-son relationships: Parental bonding behaviours and socially prescribed perfectionism in young adults

Theory and research suggest that parental bonding behaviours (i.e., overprotection and care) are important predictors of socially prescribed perfectionism. However, despite evidence suggesting that maternal and paternal behaviours may differ in their effects on children's development and their mental health outcomes, no studies thus far have investigated whether maternal and paternal bonding behaviours differentially influence socially prescribed perfectionism in sons and daughters. Therefore, we investigated the extent to which maternal and paternal overprotection and care predicted socially prescribed perfectionism in young men and women. A total of 456 undergraduate students (228 men and 228 women) completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and Parental Bonding Instrument for both parents. After controlling for self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism, results from hierarchical regression analyses indicated that women's levels of socially prescribed perfectionism were positively predicted by perceived paternal overprotection and negatively predicted by paternal care, but not perceived maternal overprotection or care. In contrast, men's levels of socially prescribed perfectionism were positively predicted by perceived maternal overprotection and negatively predicted by maternal care, but not perceived paternal overprotection or care. This study contributes to the existing perfectionism literature by highlighting possible gender-specific parental behaviours in the development of perfectionism.

Rural-urban differences in prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in adolescent patients with depression in a large sample of Chinese

BackgroundSuicidal ideation (SI) is severe comorbidity of depression that has been extensively studied in the past. Residence differences between SI have rarely been systematically studied, especially in parental rearing behavior. This large-scale explored the residence differences in the prevalence and correlation of SI adolescent patients with depression. MethodsA total of 1417 patients with depression were recruited, and their demographic data and clinical data were collected. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran (EMBU) scale were used to assess depression, and parental rearing behavior, respectively. ResultsThe prevalence of suicidal ideation was higher in urban patients than in rural patients (43.7 % vs.37.7 %, P < 0.05). Patients with SI scored higher on total CDI scores, parental punishment, parental rejection, and paternal overprotection compared to their respective patients without SI. In the urban group, patients with SI had lower parental emotional warmth scores and higher parental intervention scores compared to patients without SI. Logistic regression analysis showed that total CDI score, gender, alcohol consumption, father's emotional warmth, father's rejection, and mother's intervention were significantly associated with SI in urban patients (P < 0.05); total CDI score and mother's rejection were significantly associated with SI in rural patients (P < 0.05). LimitationsNo causal relationship could be drawn due to the cross-sectional design. ConclusionsThe results of this study showed significant residential differences in risk and associated factors for SI among adolescents with depression. Focusing on the parenting styles of adolescent patients can help with the early identification and intervention of SI.

Nature-Based Relaxation Videos and Their Effect on Heart Rate Variability.

Growing evidence suggests that natural environments – whether in outdoor or indoor settings – foster psychological health and physiological relaxation, indicated by increased wellbeing, reduced stress levels, and increased parasympathetic activity. Greater insight into differential psychological aspects modulating psychophysiological responses to nature-based relaxation videos could help understand modes of action and develop personalized relaxation interventions. We investigated heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of autonomic regulation, specifically parasympathetic activity, in response to a 10-min video intervention in two consecutive studies as well as heart rate (HR). We hypothesized that a nature-based relaxation video elicits HRV increase and HR decrease, with response magnitude being affected by aspects of early life adversity (conceptualized as low parental care and high overprotection/constraint) and trait mindfulness. In Study 1, N = 60 participants (52% female, agemean = 23.92 ± 3.13 years, agerange = 18–34 years) watched a relaxation video intervention depicting different natural scenery. We analyzed changes in HR and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as a standard HRV measure, both based on 3-min segments from the experimental session, in multiple growth curve models. We found a decrease in HR and increase of RSA during the video intervention. Higher paternal care and lower trait mindfulness observing skills (assessed via questionnaires) were associated with higher RSA values before but not during video exposure. In Study 2, N = 90 participants (50% female, agemean = 22.63 ± 4.57 years, agerange = 18–49 years) were assigned to three video conditions: natural scenery from Study 1, meditation video, or short clip from “The Lord of the Rings.” Again, HR decreased, and RSA increased during video segments, yet without expected group differences across different video types. We found higher parental care and lower parental overprotection to predict higher RSA at different times during the experiment. Interestingly, lower paternal overprotection predicted overall higher RSA. These results suggest a generic relaxation effect of video interventions on autonomic regulation that we discuss in light of different theories mapping restorative effects of natural environments. Further, psychological characteristics like aspects of early life adversity and trait mindfulness could contribute to individual differences in autonomic regulation. This study contributes to a better understanding of autonomic and psychological responses to relaxation videos.

Sex-specific role of alexithymia in associations between parental bonding and mental health: A moderated mediation model.

This study aimed to explore the role of alexithymia and potential sex differences in the associations between perceived parental bonding and mental health. The sample consists of 2421 parents from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study who completed the parental bonding instrument, the Toronto alexithymia scale, the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale, and the anxiety subscale of the symptom checklist-90. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted to examine the possible mediating role of alexithymia and moderating role of sex in the associations between parental bonding and depressive/anxiety symptoms. Alexithymia was found to be a potential mediator and sex be a moderator in the relations between perceived dysfunctional parental bonding and the psychological symptoms. Specifically, dysfunctional paternal bonding, especially paternal overprotection, had stronger indirect effects (via alexithymia) on the psychological symptoms in males. This study indicates the importance of alexithymia in the parenting-related mental health impacts and highlights the significance of paternal bonding for the development of alexithymia and mental health problems in male populations. The findings improve the limited understanding of sex-related parental factors for alexithymia and mental health problems. Future studies in longitudinal designs are warranted to clarify the causal process of the mediation.

Maternal and paternal overprotection of children born preterm: Relations to child and parental factors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlates of observed overprotective behaviors of mothers and fathers of preterm-born preschoolers. Participants included 85 children born prematurely (gestational age <37 weeks) and their parents, assessed when children were 12, 24, and 42 months old. Observed overprotection was measured through the standardized observation of a parent-child interaction. The examined correlates included parent-reported perception of their protective behavior, parental gender, child neonatal risk, child development, parent-reported perception of child vulnerability, parent-reported psychological distress, and family's socioeconomic disadvantage. Results revealed that the correlation between parent-reported and observed parental overprotection was not significant for mothers and fathers. There was a significant positive association between maternal and paternal observed overprotection and no significant differences between mothers' and fathers' overprotection levels. Lower child developmental level and more socioeconomic disadvantage at child's 12 months of age were significant predictors of observed overprotective behaviors. Findings suggest the importance of targeting parents of preterm-born children with socioeconomic disadvantages and whose children have a lower developmental level for providing support to both mothers and fathers in the development of more adaptive parenting strategies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Internalizing and externalizing correlates of parental overprotection as measured by the EMBU: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aspects of parenting including overprotection explain individual differences in child adjustment. This review and meta-analysis summarizes studies on parental overprotection and internalizing and externalizing problems. To ensure that findings could be compared as systematically as possible, the focus was on studies that used the overprotection scale of the Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran ("Memories of my Parents' Upbringing") (EMBU) questionnaire, a popular instrument to measure parental overprotection. In total, we extracted 176 effects from 29 studies. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to perform quality assessments for the included studies. Parental overprotection was associated positively with offspring internalizing and externalizing problems, with overall estimates ranging from r=.14 to .18. Moderator analyses suggested that effects of maternal were larger than effects of paternal overprotection. Other factors that moderated the strength of the association between overprotection and maladjustment included whether outcomes were self-reported or parent-reported, the design was cross-sectional or longitudinal, and publication year. Cultural context, age at exposure, and child sex did not explain differences between effect sizes. Most findings were based on cross-sectional studies and therefore do not constitute proof of causal relations. Many studies were of less-than-satisfactory quality regarding representativeness of the sample, descriptions of the data collection, and statistical analyses. There is a clear need for well-powered longitudinal studies to strengthen inferences about associations between parental overprotection and internalizing and externalizing problems.

Quantile regression analysis of the association between parental rearing and interpersonal sensitivity in Chinese adolescents

BackgroundParental rearing is well documented as an important influencing factor of interpersonal sensitivity (IS). However, little research has focused on the extent by which various aspects of parental rearing in fluence IS. This study aimed to analyze the effects of parental rearing on IS, using quantile regression. We analyzed the extent of the influence of parental rearing on IS by quantile regression to provide definitive evidence on the family education of adolescents with IS problems.MethodsThe multiple cross-sectional studies were conducted among 3345 adolescents from Harbin, China, in 1999, 2006, 2009 and 2016. Furthermore, a multistage sampling method (stratified random cluster) was used to select participants. IS was assessed using a subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision. Perceived parental rearing was assessed using the Egna Minnen av. Barndoms Uppfostran. The ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression was used to determine the average effect of parental rearing on IS. The quantile regression was conducted to examine the established associations and to further explain the association.ResultsPaternal emotional warmth was found to be associated with IS across the quantile, especially after the 0.6 quantiles; however, this association was not found for maternal emotional warmth. Paternal punishment was associated with IS at the 0.22–0.27 and 0.60 quantile; however, maternal punishment had no significant effect on IS. QR method found that paternal overinvolvement was associated with IS at the 0.48–0.65 quantiles, but paternal overprotection was associated with IS across the quantile; however, maternal overinvolvement and overprotection was positively correlated with IS at the 0.07–0.95 quantiles. The correlation between paternal rejection and IS was found at the 0.40–0.75 and > 0.90 quantiles; maternal rejection was associated with IS within the 0.05–0.92 quantiles.ConclusionsParental rearing practices predict different magnitudes of IS at varying levels. This study provides suggestions for parents to assess purposefully and systematically, intervene, and ameliorate adolescent IS problems. We also highlight the role of paternal rearing in children’s IS problems, providing new ideas for family education.