Perceived parental rearing styles of agoraphobic and socially phobic in-patients

Br J Psychiatry. 1989 Oct:155:526-35. doi: 10.1192/bjp.155.4.526.

Abstract

The perceived parental rearing practices and attitudes of agoraphobics, social phobics and non-patient normal controls were investigated, employing the EMBU, an inventory for assessing memories of upbringing. Findings obtained previously with out-patients were replicated with in-patients as subjects. Compared with the controls, agoraphobics rated both their parents as having been less emotionally warm but only their mothers as having been rejective. Socially phobic in-patients rated both their parents as having been rejective, as having lacked emotional warmth, and as having been over-protective. Comparisons between agoraphobics and social phobics showed differences in certain aspects of parental rearing, with the socially phobic in-patients assigning ratings more negatively than the agoraphobic group.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Agoraphobia / psychology*
  • Child Rearing*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Personality Development
  • Personality Tests
  • Phobic Disorders / psychology*
  • Risk Factors