title: Loneliness and depression in middle and late childhood: the relationship to attachment and parental styles.
abstract: In this study, the author analyzed the relationship between (a) parenting and attachment and (b) self-competence, loneliness, and depression in children aged 8-12 years. The author administered (a) the Argentine Scale of Perception of the Relationships with Parents (M. C. Richaud de Minzi, 2004), (b) the Kerns' Security Scale (K. A. Kerns, L. Klepac, & A. K. Cole, 1996; M. C. Richaud de Minzi, C. Sacchi, & J. E. Moreno, 2001, Argentine adaptation), (c) the Self-Perception Profile for Children (S. Harter, 1985; M. C. Richaud de Minzi et al.), (d) the Dimensions of Depression Profile for Children and Adolescents (S. Harter & M. Nowakowski, 1987), and (e) the Louvain Loneliness Scale for Children and Adolescents (A. Marcoen, L. Goossens, & P. Caes, 1987; M. C. Richaud de Minzi et al.) to 1,019 children (8-12 years of age, 483 boys, 536 girls). Results indicated that attachment and parent-child relationship styles were differentiated constructs. Parents' acceptance promoted secure attachment and positive outcomes in children. Moreover, fathers' lack of interest had a marked negative effect. The author found differences in the perceptions and influences of fathers and mothers, which follow the cultural patterns of gender attribution.
authors.affiliation: National Council of Scientific and Technological Research, Interdisciplinary Center of Mathematical and Experimental Psychology Research, Buenos Aires, Argentina. minzi@ciudad.com.ar
authors.forename: María Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Richaud de Minzi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013223:Statistics as Topic