The age changes of family parenting styles in China and its influence on mental health / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate changes of family parenting styles after the reforn and opening in China and its influence on mental health.Methods On the base of stratified convenience sampling,a valid sample of 429 were recruited from Wuxi and Hefei city residents1960s group 103 persons,1970s group 107 persons,1980s group 116 persons,and 1990s group 103 persons.Subjects' childhood parenting styles were surveyed with the family upbringing style questionnaire(FUSQ) and their current mental health status was rated with the psychological symptom inventory-100 (PSI-100).Results (1) Except understanding-blame,and expects-demanding,and mother respect-humiliation and mother warmth-wildness,there were significant age differences on other parenting styles (P＜ 0.05),their scores were gradually increased from 1960s group ((38.29± 6.30)-(44.99± 7.36)) to 1980s group ((40.96±6.05)-(48.53±7.91)),1990s group declined((40.13±7.27)-(46.97±6.61)).(2) Most parenting style dimensions were significantly negatively correlated with symptom total score (r=0.095-0.308) and mental symptom scores (r=0.090-0.330).(3) The family parenting styles had significantly effects on the symptom total score (explained variance of 20.3％) and mental symptom scores (explained variance of 12.4％-21.5％).Conclusion There have been some positive,open and scientific changes on the family parenting styles after the reform and opening in China,childhood family parenting styles have long-term effects on mental health of youth and adult.