Parental overprotection increases sociotropy with gender specificity in parents and recipients

Background: There have been few studies which examined the developmental origins of cognitive vulnerability of depression. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of parental rearing on sociotropy and autonomy, the personality vulnerability factors in the cognitive theory of depression. Methods: The subjects were 416 healthy subjects. Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), which has care and protection factors, and sociotropy and autonomy were assessed by the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale. Results: In males, neither sociotropy nor autonomy was affected by paternal rearing or maternal rearing. In females, higher levels of sociotropy were related to higher maternal protection (beta=0.308, p<0.01), while autonomy was affected neither by paternal rearing nor by maternal rearing. Limitations: Parental behaviors not covered by the PBI may affect formation of autonomy. Conclusions: The present study suggests that parental overprotection increases sociotropy with gender specificity in parents and recipients. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.