Cited by 176Attachment and Relationship DynamicsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesIdentity, Memory, and Therapy

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Parental recall, attachment relating and self‐attacking/self‐reassurance: Their relationship with depression

Irons, C., Gilbert, P., Baldwin, M.W., Baccus, J. R., Palmer, M.·2006·British Journal of Clinical Psychology

DOI 10.1348/014466505x68230

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Abstract

Objectives When things go wrong for people they can become self-critical or focus on positive, reassuring aspects of the self. This study explored the relationship between forms of self-criticism and self-reassurance, recall of parental experiences and attachment style in relation to depressed symptoms in students. Methods A sample of 197 undergraduate students from the UK and Canada completed self-report questionnaires measuring recall of parental styles, attachment, forms of self-criticism, self-reassurance, and depression symptoms. Results Recall of parents as rejecting and overprotecting was significantly related to both inadequacy and self-hating self-criticism. In contrast, parental warmth was negatively correlated with these forms of self-criticism. In addition, when things go wrong for the person, recall of parental warmth was associated with the ability to be self-reassuring. A mediator analysis suggested that (I) the impact of recall of negative parenting on depression is mediated through the forms of self-criticism and (2) the effect of parental warmth on depression was mediated by the ability to be self-reassuring. Conclusions The impacts of negative parenting styles may translate into vulnerabilities to depression via the way children (and later adults) develop their self-to-self relating (e.g. as self-critical versus self-reassuring). Hence, there is a need for further research on the link between attachment experiences, recall of parental rejection/warmth and t…

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Authors: Irons, C., Gilbert, P., Baldwin, M. W., Baccus, J. R., & Palmer, M.
Corresponding author: Gilbert, P.
ORCID: Irons, C.
Gilbert, P.
Venue: British Journal of Clinical Psychology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2006-09
Volume: 45
Issue: 3
Pages: 297-308
ISSN: 0144-6657 (ISSN-L)
2044-8260
DOI: 10.1348/014466505x68230
OpenAlex: W2161353780
Cited by: 176
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 3.87
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 1575 d)
Locations: British Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Identity, Memory, and Therapy
Keywords: parental recall, attachment styles, self-criticism, self-reassurance, depressive symptoms, parental rejection, parental warmth, parental overprotection, undergraduate students, mediation
MeSH terms: Adult, Affect, Child, Child Rearing, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Internal-External Control, Male, Object Attachment, Personality Inventory, Surveys and Questionnaires, Mental Recall, Rejection, Psychology, Risk Factors, Self Care, Self Concept, Parenting

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Parental recall, attachment relating and self‐attacking/self‐reassurance: Their relationship with depression

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