Exploring Correlation Between Perceived Parenting Styles, Early Maladaptive Schemas, and Depression Among Women With Depressive Symptoms in Iran and India- Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas as Mediators and Moderatos

BACKGROUND Many studies have reported that inadequate parental styles can contribute to depressive symptoms through dysfunctional cognitive styles. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the association of dysfunctional schemas and parenting style with depression, as well as the role of maladaptive schemas such as moderators and mediators in Iran and India. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study sample was selected randomly and consisted of 200 (age group 16-60 y) depressed females (mild to moderate); 100 from Tehran (Iran) and another 100 from Pune (India). The type of the research was causal-comparative. The data collection took place in hospitals and clinics in the targeted cities. Descriptive statistic tests and hierarchical multiple regression were executed (for the purpose of analyzing data) by SPSS 17. RESULTS It was demonstrated that the association between parenting and depression was not moderated by early maladaptive schemas. On the contrary, the results supported meditational models in which parenting styles are associated with the cognitive schemas, and these in turn are related to depressive symptoms. It was also found that abandonment mediates the impacts of maternal style on depression in Iran. On the other hand, abandonment and punitiveness schemas mediated the relation between paternal style and depression in India. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the correlation between childhood experiences and depression in adulthood are mediated by dysfunctional schemas.