Love and control: Self-criticism in parents and daughters and perceptions of relationship partners

The role of self-criticism in parenting behaviors and the impact of these behaviors on daughters’ own levels of self-criticism, depression, and perceptions of romantic partners were investigated. Parents provided information on their levels of self-criticism (DEQ; Blatt, D’Afflitti, & Quinlan, 1976) and parenting styles (SASB; Benjamin, 1974). Their daughters completed questionnaires assessing their level of self-criticism, depression (BDI-II; Beck, 1996), and the interpersonal style of their boyfriends. Structural equation modeling indicated self-critical mothers and fathers reported being less loving and more controlling with their daughters, which predicted self-criticism in daughters. Self-criticism in daughters, in turn, was associated with increased depression and perceptions of boyfriends as being less loving and more controlling. These results support the concept of parental influences on internal working models and their consequent impact on interpersonal functioning ([Andrews, 1989] and [Benjamin, 1974]).