Exploring the Links Between Parental Bonding and Life Satisfaction: Anxiety and Anger as Underlying Mechanisms

Past research has shown that parental bonding contributes to the psychological well-being of emerging adults; however, the mechanisms of this effect are unclear. Therefore, this study examined the mediator roles of anger expression, anger control, and anxiety in the association between parental bonding (care and overprotection) and life satisfaction. 369 Italian young adults (<i>n_female</i> = 242, <i>n_male</i> = 127) completed self-report measures including the Parental Bonding Instrument, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results revealed that anxiety was a mediator between parental overprotection and life satisfaction. Anger control mediated the relationship between parental care and life satisfaction. Negative expressions of anger mediated the relationship between maternal overprotection and life satisfaction. Also, negative expressions of anger mediated the link between paternal low care and life satisfaction. These findings demonstrated that maternal and paternal bonding might play a role in the life satisfaction of young adults through different underlying psycho-emotional mechanisms.