Perceived rearing attitudes and minor psychiatric morbidity among Japanese adolescents

The relationship between perceived rearing experiences and minor psychiatric morbidity was studied in a sample of Japanese adolescents. Their perceived rearing experiences were measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) and minor psychiatric morbidity by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). The total GHQ score was slightly but significantly higher (r = 0.28) among those recording high maternal protection than among those with low maternal protection, but of the subscale scores of the GHQ, only the anxiety and insomnia subscale retained this same relationship with perceived rearing experiences. The parental age, educational career, and sibship position showed no correlation with the PBI scores.