Is the Lack of Positive Parental Responses to Bodily Sensations in Childhood Related to Current Depression? Examining the Potential Mediating Role of Autonomy.

This study investigates the correlation between interoceptive mirroring throughout childhood, autonomous functioning, and depression symptoms during adulthood, with a specific emphasis on the influence of parenting methods. Based on self-determination theory and previous studies, we predicted that insufficient parental reactions to internal body signals, such as mocking or neglect, would reduce trust in bodily sensations. This would result in lower levels of independent functioning and an increase in depressed symptoms. We performed a cross-sectional observational study with 159 Chinese participants. We used self-designed and established questionnaires to evaluate interoceptive mirroring, autonomous functioning, and depressive symptoms. The results of our study indicate that a deficiency in interoceptive mirroring is linked to reduced autonomous functioning and increased depressed symptoms. The association between interoceptive mirroring and depressed symptoms remains significant even after accounting for parental neglect and psychological control. Although autonomous functioning plays a role in mediating this relationship, its indirect effect on depressive symptoms through autonomy is not significant. Limitations arise from the uncertain dependability of the Index of Autonomous Functioning due to cultural disparities and the unsuitability of the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale for our particular objectives. Subsequent investigations should focus on the development of measurement instruments that are attuned to different cultures in order to improve the precision of data collection. In summary, our findings emphasize the long-lasting influence of early parental reactions on mental well-being. Specifically, the direct impact of interoceptive mirroring on depressed symptoms remains significant, even when considering other variables.