Perceptions of parenting in childhood and social support in adulthood

Abstract

A group of primiparous women in Australia rated their parents' attitudes and behaviors toward them as children as well as perceived levels of social support shortly after the birth of their first child and 1 year later. After any bias that might have been introduced by neurotic perception of interpersonal relationships had been controlled for, analyses showed a consistent link over time between reports of perceived deficiencies in both maternal care during childhood and in the availability of close supportive relationships during adulthood. This study supports and extends findings from a 1986 U.S. study.