Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the relationship between depression, parenting styles, and attachment styles, with a particular focus on how caregiving and various attachment styles influenced depressive symptoms for young adults. The study explored the correlation between parenting approach (mother and father care and overprotection) and the development of attachment styles (insecure avoidant, secure, and insecure ambivalent). Moreover, the research aimed to provide insights on how early relational experiences shape mental health disorders, such as depression, and emotional development, specifically in relationships. This research has the potential to highlight the importance of fostering secure attachment and adaptive parenting practices. A Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) was used to measure the distribution of parenting styles among college students’ parents, along with the Self-Report Measure of Attachment and the Adult Attachment Scale to measure attachment styles, and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to classify the levels of depression in the individuals. Analyses focused on the two PBI factors (Care and Overprotection) rather than Baumrind-style groups. Results suggested a significant correlation between Mother Overprotection, Father Overprotection, and Father Care and depression levels. Because Baumrind’s categories of parenting style could not be meaningfully derived in this sample, conclusions focused on the PBI Care and Overprotection dimensions. Correlational analyses indicated that higher secure scores were associated with lower BDI scores, whereas higher avoidant and ambivalent scores were associated with higher BDI scores.

Advisor

Casey, Michael

Department

Psychology

Disciplines

Psychology

Keywords

Depression, Attachment theory, Parenting styles

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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