An Exploration of Parenting Styles, Emotion Regulation, Depression, and Culture\u27s Role

The present research examined whether cultural background had an effect on depressive symptoms through parenting style and emotion regulation strategies. Recent literature suggests that parenting styles differ across cultures, thus leading to different levels of depressive symptoms as a result differences of parenting styles aligning with cultural values. Additionally, it is suggested that some emotion regulation strategies are harmful in western cultures, but are not in collectivistic culture. Lastly, it is suggested that certain parenting techniques foster both harmful and helpful emotion regulation strategies. Participants (N=83) completed measures of PAQ (Parental Authority Questionnaire), ERQ (Emotion Regulation Questionnaire), and CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). Multiple mediation, mediated-moderation, and moderated-mediation analyses were used to examine these relationships. Results found that permissive parenting style was correlated with age and suppression in western sample, while authoritarian parenting styles, age, and reappraisal were correlated to depression, and sex and permissive parenting style were related to suppression. Further analyses showed that permissive parenting was related to increased depression and suppression, while authoritarian parenting were also related to increased depression. Additionally, analyses showed that hailing from an Arab background led to increased use of suppression. Lastly, analyses showed that being from a collectivistic culture did not assume these relationships. Findings partially support current literature, and suggest that generations in the US, along with dimensions of parenting styles should be considered for understanding emotion regulation strategies and depression risk