Impact of dysfunctional parenting, affective temperaments, and stressful life events on the development of melancholic and non-melancholic depression: A path analysis study

Abstract

Background The influence of psychosocial factors on differentiating between melancholic depression (MEL) and non-melancholic depression (NMEL) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interrelationship between dysfunctional parenting, personality traits, stressful life events, and the diagnosis of MEL and NMEL among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods Ninety-eight patients with MDD completed the following self-administered questionnaires: the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) for dysfunctional parenting, the short version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A) for affective temperaments, and the Life Experiences Survey (LES) for stressful life events. The data were analyzed using single and multiple regression analyses and path analysis. Results Dysfunctional parenting did not have a significant direct effect on MEL. However, paternal care had a significant indirect effect on MEL through depressive temperament. The total indirect effect of paternal care on MEL was significant (indirect path coefficient = 0.161, p <0.05). In other words, low levels of paternal care were associated with the development of NMEL via increased depressive temperament. None of the paths from paternal care to MEL via negative change scores of the LES were significant. Limitations This study used cross-sectional data, so the possibility that current depressive status may affect the assessment of LES and TEMPS-A cannot be ruled out. Conclusions We found that low levels of paternal care did not directly affect the development of NMEL, but affected the development of NMEL through the mediation of depressive temperament rather than stressful life events.