Self-critical attitudes and parental criticism in young women

It has been suggested that self-criticism derived from the family environment is a major vulnerability factor for depression. We tested in a sample of young women the hypothesis that self-criticism would be linked to parental reports of criticism, with perceived parental criticism playing a mediating role. Results indicated that self-criticism over appearance was independent of the other types of self-criticism measured. The data revealed additionally that self-criticism was related, independently of depression, to perceived parental criticism, but not to parents' own reports of criticism. Self-criticism over appearance was not related to parental variables.