Adverse parenting as a risk factor in the occurrence of anxiety disorders

Objective The aim of the study was to test the homogeneity of the association between adverse parenting and anxiety disorders within these disorders as well as among six European countries. Method Based on data from 8,232 respondents (part II sample) originating from the European study of the epidemiology of mental disorders (ESEMeD), we examined the association between three dimensions of parental rearing (care, overprotection, authoritarianism) measured by a short form of the parental bonding instrument (PBI) and anxiety disorders by computing one logistic regression model per disorder. Results A similar pattern of recalled parenting behaviour across the four anxiety disorders assessed was found, with care and overprotection having the strongest associations. There were only minor country- specific variations of this pattern. Conclusion Our results suggest an association between adverse parenting and the risk of anxiety disorders in particular as well as psychiatric disorders in general that is rather non-disorder specific