Men’s recollections of child and adolescent parental bonding and prospective associations with shame in adulthood

Abstract Few studies have investigated developmental origins of shame in men, yet experiences of shame are linked to psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors. Here, we examine recollections of parental care and control during childhood and adolescence and subsequent experiences of shame in adult men. Participants were Australian men ( n = 558; Mean age = 29.86, SD = 1.33) from the longitudinal Men and Parenting Pathways study. Parental bonding recollections with both mothers and fathers up to 16 years were assessed at Wave 1 with the Parental Bonding Instrument. Quadrants indicating optimal parenting, affectionate constraint, affectionless control, and neglectful parenting were derived from subscale combinations of high and low parental care and control. Shame was assessed 3 and 4 years later using the Event-Related Shame and Guilt Scale. Linear regressions, using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs), were performed to examine associations between parental bonding with the participants’ mothers and fathers separately and shame at the two subsequent timepoints. In comparison to optimal parenting, affectionless control (β = 0.38 fathers , 0.49 mothers , p = < .001) and neglectful parenting (β = 0.30 fathers , p = .004) were significantly associated with subsequent shame after adjustment for wave of outcome assessment and potential confounders (birthplace, parental status and parental divorce, separation or death). Poor-quality bonds with either the mother or father during formative years of development may have enduring effects on young men in adulthood by increasing their risk of shame. Future research is needed to examine additional contributing factors, and the role of mental health symptoms in these relationships.