Parental rearing behaviour and personality characteristics of depressed patients

Within the framework of a large and ongoing study of depression in its biological, clinical, psychological and social aspects, 141 patients of both sexes in the age range 21 to 65 years participated in a study of parental rearing practices and personality characteristics. The perceived parental rearing behaviour was assessed by means of a specially constructed inventory (EMBU), and the personality characteristics by means of a Swedish personality inventory, the KSP, which had previously been shown to measure relatively stable personality characteristics. Several important correlations emerged between parental rearing practices and personality traits. In particular, power assertive practices and psychological types of discipline (shaming, guilt-engendering) showed significant correlations with aspects of aggression and significant negative correlations with socialization. There was a good agreement between male and female patients in the judgement of the rearing behaviour of their fathers. However, female patients scored their mother as more abusive, whereas male patients scored them as more over-protective. On the whole, the rearing practices of the mothers were judged more negatively than those of the fathers. The findings of this study appear to be consistent with earlier results reported by other authors.