Childhood Parentification and Shame-Proneness: A Preliminary Study
Abstract
The current study, utilizing a group of 197 undergraduate students, found that childhood parentification is associated with shame-proneness in adults (when the shared variance with guiltproneness is controlled). Parentification, the reversal of parent and child roles, requires a premature identification with the parent(s)' expectations and needs, at the expense of the development of the child's true talents and gifts, often leaving the child feeling ashamed of the true self's unrewarded strivings. This finding is linked theoretically to an earlier study that found a relationship between childhood parentification and both narcissistic and masochistic personality characteristics (Jones & Wells, 1996). A secondary finding supported a predicted relationship between guilt and shame. Clinicians are encouraged to attend to the possibilities of these connections when planning and executing treatment plans with parentified adults.
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Wells and Jones (2000) note that COA who take on an adult's role in the family have a higher risk of feeling ashamed of themselves as adults.
“Wells and Jones (2000) discuss the relationship between shame and parentification, and note that COA who take on an adult’s role in the family have a higher risk of feeling ashamed of themselves as adults.”
From “I Feel It In My Heart When My Parents Fight”: Experiences of 7–9-Year-Old Children of Alcoholics (2018) · cites this paper as Wells and Jones (2000)
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“Measure Name & Description Literature ParticipantGroup Modifications Alpha Sample Context PQ Oznobishin andKurman, 2009 [85] Study 1: Adults Study 2: Adoles- cents Study 1: Combined PQ with Parent–Child Role Reversal Scale from the Family Structure Survey [121] (49 items total); Two factors emerged: child dominance (1…”
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“Wells and Jones (2000) discuss the relationship between shame and parentification, and note that COA who take on an adult’s role in the family have a higher risk of feeling ashamed of themselves as adults.”
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- Authors
- Wells, M., & Jones, R.
- Venue
- The American Journal of Family Therapy
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2000-01
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19-27
- ISSN
- 0192-6187 (ISSN-L)
- 1521-0383
- OpenAlex
- W2128120072
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Family Therapy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Forgiveness and Related Behaviors
- Keywords
- shame proneness, guilt proneness, guilt and shame, narcissistic personality traits, adult development
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