Effects of Parental Nurturing Attitudes, Peer Victimization, and Depressive Rumination on Anxiety in Japanese Adults

Parental attitudes and peer victimization experiences in childhood influence anxiety. Depressive rumination is associated with these factors, but the interrelationship between them remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that “inadequate parental attitudes” and “peer victimization” experienc...

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Main Authors: Jiro Masuya, Masayuki Kikkawa, Miki Ono, Chihiro Morishita, Shunichiro Ito, Rintaro Nibuya, Yu Tamada, Osamu Takashio, Mina Honyashiki, Takeshi Inoue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Psychiatry International
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/1/10
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Summary:Parental attitudes and peer victimization experiences in childhood influence anxiety. Depressive rumination is associated with these factors, but the interrelationship between them remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that “inadequate parental attitudes” and “peer victimization” experienced in childhood worsen “depressive rumination” and “state anxiety”, and that “depressive rumination” is an intermediate factor that worsens anxiety symptoms in adulthood. We verified this interrelationship by structural equation modeling. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted on 576 adult volunteers, who gave written consent. Demographic data and scores from the Parental Bonding Instrument, Childhood Victimization Rating Scale, Ruminative Responses Scale, and state anxiety of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y were collected. Data were analyzed by multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling. In the study models, inadequate parental attitudes (low care and high overprotection) and depressive rumination directly worsened anxiety. Inadequate parental attitudes and peer victimization experienced in childhood indirectly worsened anxiety via depressive rumination. Furthermore, inadequate parental attitudes experienced in childhood indirectly worsened depressive rumination via peer victimization in childhood. Our results indicate that depressive rumination influences the relationship between inadequate parental attitudes, peer victimization, and adulthood anxiety. Therefore, assessing the quality of parental attitudes and peer victimization experienced in childhood and depressive rumination may help to clarify the antecedents of anxiety and how to intervene effectively.
ISSN:2673-5318