THE RELATION BETWEEN PARENTING AND ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION - SELF-WORTHAS A MEDIATOR

Relations between three components of parenting and young adolescent's depressive symptoms were studied in a sample of 240 mothers and child ren (Mean child age = 11.87, SD = .57). Mothers were selected for havi ng a range of psychopathology (77% had a history of mood disorders). M others and children each completed the Children's Rating of Parental B ehavior Inventory (CRPBI), which yields three parenting dimensions: ac ceptance/rejection, autonomy/psychological control, and firm/lax contr ol. Mothers and children also completed a questionnaire and an intervi ew about rile child's depressive symptom; during the previous 2 weeks. Three composite parenting scores were created by combining mothers' a nd children's ratings on each CRPBI subscale, and a composite depressi on score was based on the children's, mothers', and clinicians' rating s of the child's depressive symptoms. Maternal acceptance showed a sig nificant negative relation to depressive symptoms, and maternal psycho logical control was positively associated with depressive symptoms The se relations were mediated partially through the child's perceived sel f-worth.