Why Is Maternal Control Harmful? The Relation between Maternal Control, Insecure Attachment and Antisocial Personality Disorder Features in Chinese College Students: A Sequential Mediation Model

Abstract

Background: Previous work has indicated that a negative parenting style is associated with antisocial personality disorder features in Chinese college students, yet few studies have explored the unique role of negative mothering in children’s antisocial personality disorder. Methods: The current study mainly examined the sequential mediation effect of parental antipathy and neglect (PAN) and mother negative loving (a form of insecure attachment) in the association between mother control and adulthood antisocial personality disorder features (ASPD features) in the framework of attachment theory and cognitive–behavioral theory. A community sample of 1547 Chinese college students filled in the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire, the Adult Attachment Questionnaire and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4+. Results: A sequential mediation model analysis showed that maternal control significantly predicted PAN, mother negative loving, as well as ASPD features. Conclusions: Mother control and mother negative loving appear to advance on the development and exacerbation of ASPD features in college students.

The Consequences of Child Abuse

“…ACEs may undermine developmental processes and psychological adjustment that will last into adulthood. For example, a study found that a relationship between parental antipathy and negative loving can increase the pathology of antisocial personality disorder [54]. Over time, personality deficits become dysfunctional and contribute to maladaptive behavioral and emotional output.…”