Parenting on depression: the mediating role of self-esteem

This study explored the relations between parenting, depression and self-esteem. In particular, the study examine if self-esteem mediates the relationship between parenting and depression. College students from different universities completed a set of questionnaires for parental authority, parental bonding, depression and self-esteem. Results showed that both paternal and maternal care negatively predicted depression while overprotection positively predicted it. Maternal permissiveness and authoritativeness and paternal permissiveness are significantly related to depression. Accounting for self-esteem as a mediator, the results indicated that self-esteem partially and significantly mediated the relationship of paternal and maternal care, overprotection and permissiveness on depression. These results provide more clarity on the role of self-esteem as to how parenting influence children’s depression.