Centre for Policy on Ageing



Overprotection of parents and anxiety in later life
Author(s)	Nan L Stevens, Lars Andersson
Journal title	Journal of Mental Health and Aging, vol 2, no 1, Spring 1996
Pages	pp 39-50
Keywords	Anxiety ; Older men ; Older women ; Personal relationships ; Parents ; Sweden.
Annotation	Within gerontology, research on the influence of early experiences with parents on the mental health of older persons is scarce. In this Swedish survey with a representative sample of 267 community residents aged 65 to 74 years, recalled quality of parenting was examined in association with anxiety. A typology of four types of parenting is based on two dimensions of parental behaviour, care and control. Gender and current attachment status are also examined in relation to anxiety. Results show that gender, attachment status, and parenting that is characterised by affectionless control have significant effects on anxiety. Vulnerability due to overprotection by parents early in life persists into old age for men. Lack of an affectionate partner increases vulnerability to anxiety for both men and women. Differential socialisation patterns for men and women are useful in explaining the results. (AKM).
Accession Number	CPA-980514208 A
Classmark	ENP: BC: BD: DS: SR: 76P
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.