Perceptions of parental rearing and dysfunctional attitudes: The link between early experiences and individual vulnerability?

A possible link between experiences of dysfunctional parental rearing and late behavioural outcomes could consist of the development of dysfunctional assumptions about self and others in relationship. This hypothesis has previously been addressed in psychiatric patients. Accordingly, the confounding influence of mental status on the endorsement of dysfunctional assumptions cannot be wholly excluded. The present study, in which a community sample of 233 subjects was enrolled, was planned to contribute to clarifying this issue. Subjects completed the EMBU to assess perceptions of parental rearing and two measures of dysfunctional assumptions, or dysfunctional working models: the DAS and the DWM-S. It was predicted that experiences of caring parental rearing would be negatively correlated with scores on both the DAS and the DWM-S. Conversely, it was predicted that experiences of dysfunctional parenting would be positively correlated with scores on the two scales. Both predictions were supported by the results. Perceptions of dysfunctional maternal rearing contribute most to high scores both on the DAS and the DWM-S.