Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of Self-Criticism in Adolescent Girls: Roles of Maternal Dissatisfaction, Maternal Coldness, and Insecure Attachment

  • Published:
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A model of the development of self-criticism in adolescent girls is proposed, in which maternal dissatisfaction leads to maternal coldness. Maternal coldness in turn leads to insecure attachment in the daughter, which leads to self-criticism. This model was supported in a sample of 54 early adolescent girls and their mothers. The relationship between maternal dissatisfaction and daughter attachment was mediated by maternal coldness. The relationship between maternal coldness and daughter self-criticism was mediated by daughter attachment. The implications of these findings for theory and future research are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Abidin, R. R. (1986). Parenting Stress Index: Test Manual. Pediatric Psychology Press, Charlottesvillle, VA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abidin, R. R. (1990). Parenting Stress Index Short Form: Test Manual. Unpublished manuscript, University of Virginia.

  • Angold, A., and Rutter, M. (1992). Effects of age and pubertal status on depression in a large clinical sample. Develop. Psychopathol. 4: 5–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armsden, G. C., and Greenberg, M. T. (1987). The inventory of parent and peer attachment: Individual differences and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence. J. Youth Adolesc. 16: 427–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baron, R. M., and Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 51: 1173–1182.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy: An attachment perspective. J. Soc. Pers. Relat. 7: 147–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew, K., and Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 61: 226–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batgos, J., and Leadbeater, B. J. (1994). Parental attachment, peer relationships, and dysphoria in adolescence. In Sperling, M. B., and Berman, W. H. (eds.), Attachment in Adults: Clinical and Developmental Perspectives, Guilford Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J. (1995). The destructiveness of perfectionism: Implications for the treatment of depression. Am. Psychol. 50: 1003–1020.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J., and Homann, E. (1992). Parent-child interaction in the etiology of dependent and self-critical depression. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 12: 47–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J., D'Affliti, J. P., and Quinlan, D. (1976). Experiences of depression in normal young adults. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 85: 383–389.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J., Schaffer, C. E., Bers, S. A., and Quinlan, D. M. (1992). Psychometric properties of the depressive experiences questionnaire for adolescents. J. Personal. Assess. 59: 82–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J., Hart, B., Quinlan, D. M., Leadbeater, B., and Auerbach, J. (1993). Interpersonal and self-critical dysphoria and behavioral problems in adolescence. J. Youth Adolesc. 22: 253–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brewin, C. R., Andrews, B., and Furnham, A. (1993). Intergenerational links and positive self-cognitions: Parental correlates of optimism, learned resourcefulness, and self-evaluation. Cognit. Therapy Res. 20: 247–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bugenthal, D. B. (1992). Affective and cognitive processes within threat-oriented family systems. In Sigel, I. E., McGillicuddy-DeLisi, A. V., and Goodnow, J. J. (eds.), Parental Belief Systems: The Psychological Consequences for Children (2nd Ed.). Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 219–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, W. A. (1992). Parents' cognitions and developmental changes in relationships during adolescence. In Sigel, I. E., McGillicuddy-DeLisi, A. V., and Goodnow, J. J. (eds.), Parental Belief Systems: The Psychological Consequences for Children (2nd Ed.). Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 175–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egeland, B., and Farber, E. A. (1984). Infant-mother attachment: Factors related to its development and changes over time. Child Develop. 55: 753–771.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fichman, L., Koestner, R., and Zuroff, D. C. (1994). Depressive styles in adolescence: Assessment, relation to social functioning, and developmental trends. J. Youth Adolesc. 23: 315–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichman, L., Koestner, R., and Zuroff, D. C. (1996). Dependency, self-criticism, and perceptions of inferiority at summer camp: I'm even worse than you think. J. Youth Adolesc. 25: 113–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frost, R. O., Lahart, C. M., and Rosenblate, R. (1991). The development of perfectionism: A study of daughters and their parents. Cognit. Therapy Res. 15: 469–489.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garber, J., Robinson, N. S., Valentiner, D. (1997). The relation between parenting and adolescent depression: Self-worth as a mediator. J. Adolesc. Res. 12: 12–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holahan, C. J., Valentiner, D. P., and Moos, R. H. (1995). Parental support, coping strategies, and psychological adjustment: An integrative model with late adolescents. J. Youth Adolesc. 24: 633–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaenicke, C., Hammen, C., Zupan, B., Hiroto, D., Gordon, D., Adrian, C., and Burge, D. (1987). Cognitive vulnerability in children at risk for depression. J. Abnorm. Child Psychol. 15: 559–572.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kochanska, G., Clark, L. A., and Goldman, M. S. (1997). Implications of mothers' personality for their parenting and their young children's developmental outcomes. J. Personal. 65: 387–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koestner, R., Zuroff, D. C., and Powers, T. A. (1991). The family origins of self-criticism and its continuity into adulthood. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 100: 191–197.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuperminc, G., Blatt, S. J., and Leadbeater, B. (1997). Relatedness, self-definition, and early adolescent adjustment. Cognit. Therapy Res. 21: 301–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leadbeater, B., Blatt, S. J., and Quinlan, D. (1995). Gender-linked vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms, stress, and problem behaviors in adolescence. J. Res. Adolesc. 5: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Main, M., and Weston, D. R. (1982). Avoidance of the attachment figure in infancy: Descriptions and interpretations. In Parkes, C. M., and Stevenson-Hinde, J. (eds.), The Place of Attachment in Human Behavior. Havistock, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCranie, C. W., and Bass, J. D. (1984). Childhood family antecedents of dependency and self-criticism: Implications for depression. J. Abnorm. Psychol. 93: 3–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mongrain, M. (1998). Parental representations and support-seeking behaviors related to dependency and self-criticism. J. Personal. 66: 151–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mongrain, M., and Zuroff, D. C. (1994). Ambivalence over emotional expression and negative life events: Mediators of depressive symptoms in dependent and self-critical individuals. Personal. Individ. Differ. 16: 447–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (1990). Sex Differences in Depression. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nolen-Hoeksema, S., and Girgus, J. (1994). The emergence of gender differences in depression during adolescence. Psychol. Bull. 115: 424–443.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, G. (1979). Parental characteristics in relation to depressive disorders. Br. J. Psychiatry. 134: 138–147.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, R. A., Barbour, N. E., and Bubenzer, D. L. (1995). Peer support as a buffer of parental stress. J. Adolesc. Res. 10: 278–290.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T. W., O'Keefe, J. L., and Jenkins, M. (1988). Dependency and self-criticism: Correlates of depression or moderators of the effects of stressful events? J. Personal. Disord. 2: 160–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiger, H., Puentes-Neuman, G., and Leung, F. Y. (1991). Personality and family factors of adolescent girls with eating symptoms: Evidence for restrictive/binger differences in a non-clinical population. Addict. Behav. 16: 303–314.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R., and Zuroff, D. C. (1998). Dependent and self-critical mothers' responses to adolescent autonomy and competence. Personal. Individ. Differ. 24: 311–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuroff, D. C., and Fitzpatrick, D. K. (1995). Depressive personality styles: Implications for adult attachment. Personal. Individ. Differ. 18: 253–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuroff, D. C., Igreja, I., and Mongrain, M. (1989). Dysfunctional attitudes, dependency, and self-criticism as predictors of depressed mood states: A 12-month longitudinal study. Cognit. Therapy Res. 14: 315–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuroff, D. C., Blatt, S. J., and Quinlan, D. (1990). Psychometric properties of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire. J. Personal. Assess. 55: 56–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuroff, D. C., Koestner, R., and Powers, T. A. (1994). Self-criticism at age 12: A longitudinal study of adjustment. Cognit. Therapy Res. 18: 367–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zuroff, D. C., Stotland, S., Sweetman, E., Craig, J. A., and Koestner, R. (1995). Dependency, self-criticism, and social interactions. Br. J. Clin. Psychol. 34: 543–553.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, McGill University, Canada

    Richard Thompson (Doctoral Candidate) & David C. Zuroff (Professor, Department of Psychology, McGill University)

Authors
  1. Richard Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David C. Zuroff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thompson, R., Zuroff, D.C. Development of Self-Criticism in Adolescent Girls: Roles of Maternal Dissatisfaction, Maternal Coldness, and Insecure Attachment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence 28, 197–210 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021601431296

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021601431296

Keywords

Search

Navigation