The Relationship between Parenting Styles and Adolescents Depression Symptoms with the Mediation of Psychological Inflexibility

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parenting styles and adolescent’s depression symptoms, with psychological inflexibility as a mediator. The research method was descriptive correlational. The statistical population consisted of all teenagers of Kermanshah city. 308 teenagers were selected by cluster random sampling. The instruments used included the Kovacs Depression Questionnaires, Baumrind Parenting Styles, and measures of avoidance and fusion. To analyze the data Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted. The results indicated that the authoritarian parenting style was directly associated with depression symptoms, while authoritative and permissive parenting styles were indirectly linked to depression symptoms through psychological inflexibility. Additionally, psychological inflexibility was found to have a direct influence on depression symptoms. Further analysis revealed a significant relationship between authoritative and permissive parenting styles and depression symptoms, mediated by psychological inflexibility. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the relationship between parenting styles, psychological inflexibility, and depression symptoms be considered in interventions targeting adolescent mental health.

Keywords

• depression symptoms
• parenting styles
• psychological inflexibility