Perceived Parental Rearing in Paediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Examining the Factor Structure of the EMBU...

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Parental rearing styles, particularly high rejection and overprotection, are associated with child psychopathology.
• Paediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be influenced by these rearing behaviors.
• The Egna Minnen Beträffande Uppfostran (EMBU) is a widely used questionnaire for assessing perceived parental rearing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the factor structure of the EMBU in a sample of children and youth with OCD and their mothers.
• To explore the associations between perceived parental rearing and clinical correlates of paediatric OCD.
• To validate the EMBU as a measure for assessing rearing behaviors in paediatric OCD.

Main Methods:

• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the factor structure of the EMBU child and parent versions.
• The study included 176 children and youth diagnosed with OCD and 162 of their mothers.
• Associations between EMBU scores and OCD severity, comorbid symptoms, and functional impairment were analyzed.

Main Results:

• A 4-factor model provided the best fit for the parent version of the EMBU.
• A higher-order model demonstrated the best fit for the child version of the EMBU.
• Increased perceived negative rearing behaviors (rejection, overprotection) and decreased positive behaviors were significantly associated with greater OCD severity, higher comorbidity, and increased impairment.

Conclusions:

• The EMBU exhibits a conceptually meaningful factor structure in the context of paediatric OCD.
• The EMBU serves as a valuable tool for assessing perceived rearing behaviors in children and adolescents with OCD.
• Understanding parental rearing patterns is crucial for comprehending and potentially intervening in paediatric OCD.