Abstract
The effects of parental rejection, psychological adjustment, and trait anxiety on the development of intolerance of uncertainty
Australian Psychologist, Vol.53(Supplement 1), p.27
APS Congress Psychology: Advancing into a new age, 2018 (Sydney, Australia, 27-Sep-2018–30-Sep-2018)
2018
Abstract
Aim: The primary aim of this study was to examine the hypothesised link between the development of Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) in adulthood, and the experience of parental rejection in childhood. IU has been clinically linked to most anxiety and some depressive disorders, but little is known about its generative processes. Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory (IPARTheory) suggests that parental rejection in childhood predicts various later-life psychological and behavioural conditions, but the relative contributions of maternal and paternal rejection may vary, depending on the condition being examined, and the gender of the individual. The study additionally sought to examine psychological maladjustment and trait anxiety as potential mediators in the relationships between perceived parental rejection and IU development. Design: A crosssectional research design was used, examining quantitative data. This allowed the simultaneous collection of both historical data (specifically, recollections of childhood maternal and paternal rejection) and also current data. Method: 261 female and 103 male participants aged 18+ responded anonymously to an online test battery measuring recalled childhood maternal and paternal rejection, IU levels, psychological maladjustment, and trait anxiety. Correlations were undertaken between all variables, and multiple regression analyses were undertaken to identify the utility of both maternal and paternal rejection as predictors of IU in later life. Bootstrapping analyses were then undertaken to test the models of psychological maladjustment and trait anxiety as simultaneous multiple mediators of the significant relationships identified by the multiple regression analyses. Results: Positive correlations between all variables were confirmed, except between paternal rejection and IU in males. Regression results showed that only childhood rejection from the opposite-gender parent contributed significantly to predicting IU in adulthood for both males (15%) and females (6%). Mediation analyses identified that a combination of psychological maladjustment and trait anxiety fully mediated the paternal rejection-IU relationship in females, while trait anxiety alone fully mediated the maternal rejection-IU relationship in males. Conclusion: These results have clinical relevance, suggesting that childhood maternal and paternal rejection are experienced differently, and their generative impact on IU development differs between females and males. The differing contributions of psychological maladjustment and trait anxiety as mediators suggest these relationships are complex, and worthy of exploration in a clinical setting for clients experiencing IU.
Details
- Title
- The effects of parental rejection, psychological adjustment, and trait anxiety on the development of intolerance of uncertainty
- Authors
- Scott Harris (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and LawDixie J Statham (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
- Publication details
- Australian Psychologist, Vol.53(Supplement 1), p.27
- Conference details
- APS Congress Psychology: Advancing into a new age, 2018 (Sydney, Australia, 27-Sep-2018–30-Sep-2018)
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1111/ap.12372
- ISSN
- 0005-0067; 0005-0067
- Organisation Unit
- School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451400702621
- Output Type
- Abstract
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