Perceived Parental Functioning, Self-Esteem, and Psychological Distress in Adults Whose Parents are Separated/Divorced

Verrocchio, Maria Cristina; Marchetti, Daniela; Fulcheri, Mario

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01760

Cited by 22 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our results are consistent with prior studies reporting high correlations among experiences of hostility, rejection, humiliation and parental criticism and the development of a representation of the self that is characterized by feelings of low self-worth, shame, guilt, and propensity to adopt a punitive self-stance, as a consequence of an internalization of a highly critical family environment ( Soffer et al, 2008 ; Kopala-Sibley and Zuroff, 2014 ; Baetens et al, 2015 ; Verrocchio et al, 2015 ). In a recent meta-analysis, Liu et al (2017) found that emotional abuse had the strongest effect on suicidal behavior compared to other types of maltreatment.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Childhood Maltreatment, Pathological Personality Dimensions, and Suicide Risk in Young Adults

et al. 2018

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Several studies have demonstrated that child maltreatment (psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, and neglect) may be a significant factor in the development of pathological personality traits that increase the risk for suicidal ideation and behavior from adolescence to adulthood. Currently, the challenge is to understand how different forms of early negative experiences render an individual prone to develop specific personality traits and, in turn, be more vulnerable to suicide risk. To understand the relationship between childhood maltreatment and personality dimensions in suicide risk, our study aims to explore the role of self-criticism and dependency, two different pathological personality traits, as potential mediators of the link between different types of childhood maltreatment and suicide risk in young adults. For this purpose, 306 students from three Italian public universities were recruited. We used the Italian version of the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire (CECA.Q) to assess experiences of lack of care by parents (i.e., antipathy and neglect) as well as psychological and physical abuse before the age of 17 years. The Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ) was used to assess the personality dimensions of self-criticism and dependency, and the Suicide History Self-Rating Screening Scale was administered to assess suicide risk. Results revealed that lack of care and psychological abuse were significantly associated with suicide risk and this association was partially mediated by the maladaptive personality dimension of self-criticism. These findings suggest that the combined effect of specific forms of dysfunctional parental behavior during childhood and the development of rigid and dysfunctional negative personality traits may increase the risk for suicidal ideation and behavior during adulthood.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Childhood Maltreatment, Pathological Personality Dimensions, and Suicide Risk in Young Adults

et al. 2018

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“…Understanding the co-occurrence and temporal dynamics of hyperactivity/inattention and emotional symptoms may be significant for explaining the development of hyperactivity/inattention from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. In addition, a closer exploration of these processes is warranted because the additional presence of emotional symptoms can significantly affect quality of life, academic performance, adult adjustment, and lifetime psychiatric comorbidities ( Wehmeier et al, 2010 ; Seymour et al, 2012 ; Verrocchio et al, 2015 ). Our findings show that emotional symptoms of children significantly predicted their hyperactivity/inattention.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Parent Psychological Distress on Child Hyperactivity/Inattention During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Testing the Mediation of Parent Verbal Hostility and Child Emotional Symptoms

et al. 2020

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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health crisis is strongly affecting the psychological well-being of the general population. According to a very recent literature, the imposed lockdown and social distancing measures have generated a series of negative outcomes, including fear of the future, anxiety, and somatization symptoms. Few studies have investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of parents and children, and still fewer studies have assessed the relationship between the psychological health of parents and children. The present study aimed at understanding the effect of parents’ psychological distress and verbal aggression on behavioral and emotional symptoms of children during the COVID-19 lockdown. Using an online survey administered in the first weeks of the lockdown in Italy, we explored the mediating effects of parent verbal hostility and child emotional symptoms on the relationship between parent distress and child hyperactivity/inattention in a sample of 878 Italian parents (87.4% mothers; meanage = 40.58). Two hypotheses were proposed: (1) parent distress would significantly predict child hyperactivity/inattention, and (2) parent verbal hostility and child emotional symptoms would mediate the association between parent distress and child hyperactivity/inattention. The serial mediated model confirmed both hypotheses, suggesting that higher rates of psychological distress in parents were associated with higher levels of hyperactivity/inattention in children. Parent verbal hostility and child emotional problems were also found to positively mediate this relation. Our results may be used to improve sociopsychological interventions in the general population in the near future. They may also contribute to the clinical definition of therapeutic paths for parents and families.

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“…The lack of quick recognition of this form of psychological maltreatment can be detrimental to the child’s mental health. In particular, research has widely confirmed the negative impact of PA on children, with outcomes ranging from psychopathology (e.g., depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and conduct disorders) to poor academic performance and low self-esteem (Baker, 2007; Ben-Ami & Baker, 2012; Saini et al, 2016; Verrocchio et al, 2016; Verrocchio et al, 2019; Verrocchio & Baker, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MMPI-2 Profiles of Mothers Engaged in Parental Alienation

Roma

Marchetti

Mazza

et al. 2020

Journal of Family Issues

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Parental alienation (PA) describes a family dynamic in which a parent engages in behaviors that are likely to foster a child’s unjustified rejection of the other parent. PA is considered a particular form of child psychological maltreatment with both short- and long-term negative consequences. Parents who attempt to turn a child against the other parent in cases of separation/divorce can be difficult to identify. Increasing our understanding of the personality features of these parents via psychological assessment may enable us to identify PA more quickly following the onset of abuse. In the present study, the personality characteristics of mothers engaging in PA were examined through a comparative analysis of MMPI-2 profiles. The results indicated that alienating mothers presented higher moral virtue and extroversion. They were more vulnerable to interpersonal stress and they demonstrated unsuccessful self-representation. The findings provide a preliminary model for understanding the profile of mothers who engage in PA.

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Perceived Parental Functioning, Self-Esteem, and Psychological Distress in Adults Whose Parents are Separated/Divorced

Cited by 22 publications

References 39 publications

Childhood Maltreatment, Pathological Personality Dimensions, and Suicide Risk in Young Adults

Childhood Maltreatment, Pathological Personality Dimensions, and Suicide Risk in Young Adults

The Effect of Parent Psychological Distress on Child Hyperactivity/Inattention During the COVID-19 Lockdown: Testing the Mediation of Parent Verbal Hostility and Child Emotional Symptoms

MMPI-2 Profiles of Mothers Engaged in Parental Alienation

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