Parental psychopathology, parenting styles, and the risk of social phobia in offspring - A prospective-longitudinal community study

Background: This article examines the associations between DSM-IV social ph obia and parental psychopathology, parenting style, and characteristics of family functioning in a representative community sample of adolescents. Methods: Findings are based on baseline and first follow-up data of 1047 ad olescents aged 14 to 17 years at baseline (response rate, 74.3%), and indep endent diagnostic interviews with one of their parents. Diagnostic assessme nts in parents and adolescents were based on the DSM-IV algorithms of the M unich-Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Parenting style (reject ion, emotional warmth, and overprotection) was assessed by the Questionnair e of Recalled Parental Rearing Behavior, and family functioning (problem so lving, communication, roles, affective responsiveness, affective involvemen t, and behavioral control) was assessed by the McMaster Family Assessment D evice. Results: There was a strong association between parental social phobia and social phobia among offspring (odds ratio [OR],4.7; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 1.6-13.5). Other forms of parental psychopathology also were associa ted with social phobia in adolescents (depression: OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-9.1 ; any anxiety disorder other than social phobia: OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-8.8; and any alcohol use disorder: OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1 7.8). Parenting style, s pecifically parental overprotection (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.9) and rejectio n (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9), was found to be associated with social phobia in respondents. Family functioning was not associated with respondents' so cial phobia. Conclusions: Data suggest that parental psychopathology, particularly socia l phobia and depression, and perceived parenting style (overprotection and rejection) are both associated with the development of social phobia in you th.