Dissociation as a mediator between perceived parental rearing style and depression in an adult community population using college students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating process in the relationship between early parenting and depressive symptoms. In particular, the potential role of dissociation as a mediator between the perceived parental rearing style during childhood and depression in adulthood was examined, along with the effect of avoidance as a coping style. A total of 449 undergraduates (231 men and 218 women) completed five measures: the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Parenting Scale of Inconsistency (PSI), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), the Depression Scale of the GHQ-60, and the Tri-axial Coping Scale (TAC-24). Path analyses were conducted to test for mediating effects. The findings showed different paths by gender. For men, dissociation mediated the relationship between overprotective parenting and depressive symptoms, although for women, dissociation mediated the relationship between inconsistent parenting and depressive symptoms. Avoidance as a coping style had no effect on depressive symptoms. The mediating role of dissociation between perceived parenting style and depressive symptoms was confirmed in a community sample. Some clinical and research implications of the study were outlined.