Individual differences in dysfunctional automatic thinking and parental bonding: specificity of maternal care

Although research has assessed the relationship between variables such as attachment and dysfunctional beliefs, little research has addressed the link between individual differences in parental bonding and automatic thinking. To address this question, analyses were conducted with two subject samples who had completed measures of parental bonding, positive and negative automatic thinking, and affective symptoms. After controlling for affective symptomatology, regression analyses indicated that maternal care was consistently associated with both positive and negative cognitive self-statements. In a subsequent analysis using the first sample, individuals who did not evidence elevated affective symptomatology were divided into positive or negative bonding groups. Results indicated that those with positive maternal bonding experiences reported more positive and fewer negative thoughts than did those with poor maternal bonding. These data suggest that ambient levels of automatic thinking may explain some of the increased risk experienced by individuals with poor bonding.