20 research outputs found
Children's perceptions of parental emotional neglect and control and psychopathology
<b>Background:</b> Parental emotional neglect is linked to psychiatric disorder. This study explores the associations
between childrenâs perceptions of parental emotional neglect and future psychopathology.
<b>Methods:</b> In a school-based longitudinal study of nearly 1700 children aged 11-15 we explored childrenâs
perceptions of parenting, as measured by the parental bonding instrument (PBI) at age 11, and their associations
with later psychiatric diagnosis at age 15, as measured by computerized psychiatric interview. Rather than using
the traditional four category approach to the PBI, we identified groups of children, classified according to their
perceptions of parenting, using latent class analysis.
<b>Results:</b> A small group of children (3%) perceived their parents as almost always emotionally neglectful and
controlling. This group had an increased odds of psychiatric disorder (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.29-4.50), increased
overall (standardised) psychiatric symptom scores (B = 0.46; 95% CI 0.16-0.75) and increased scores in all
psychiatric subscales except substance-use at age 15, despite no increase in psychiatric referral at age 11.
Analyses controlled for key potential confounders (e.g. socioeconomic status).
<b>Conclusions:</b> Although our findings are limited by having no objective evidence that childrenâs perceptions of emotional neglect are directly associated with actual neglect, childrenâs perceptions of neglect and control are associated with over twice the odds of psychiatric disorder at age 15. Childrenâs perceptions that parents are emotionally neglectful and controlling are independently associated with later psychiatric disorder and should be taken seriously as a risk factor for future psychopathology