Parental psychological control and depressive symptomatology among rural Pakistani schoolgirls: the mediating role of suppressed autonomy

This study examined the relationships between parental psychological control (PPC), depressive symptoms (DS), and low self-worth (LSW) among adolescent girls in rural Pakistan, with suppressed autonomy (SA) tested as a mediating mechanism. A cross-sectional survey design targeted 388 female students aged 13–18 years in Bhakkar. Structural equation modeling revealed that PPC was significantly associated with higher DS and LSW. SA statistically mediated these associations, accounting for 80% of the total association with DS and 54% of the total association with LSW. Direct associations of PPC with SA, DS, and LSW were also statistically significant. The findings highlight the strong associations between psychologically controlling parenting, SA, and girls’ emotional well-being and self-perceptions, suggesting that SA represents an important psychological process underlying these relationships. The study underscores the need for culturally sensitive clinical interventions and school-based programs that promote autonomy, support mental health, and strengthen self-worth among adolescent girls in Pakistan.