Anxiety, depression, and perception of early parenting: A meta-analysis.

Reviewed the literature on perceived parental rearing practices in depressed and anxious patients by meta-analysis. The psychometric and validational properties of questionnaires measuring perceptions of parental rearing styles were investigated, and only studies using satisfactory measures were included in the meta-analysis. Studies were grouped into categories such as specific type of disorder, remitted vs nonremitted cases, males vs females, and state vs trait measures of anxiety and depression. Various types of phobic disorder were related to a parental rearing style of less affection and more control as compared with healthy controls. Findings with regard to depression appeared to be less consistent. Both more and less parental affection and more and less parental control were associated with depression, but the largest effect sizes were found for less affection and more control."