engleski

The role of fathers in future time perception and depression of late adolescent girls

Adolescence is a highly risk period for development of depression especially in girls. Cognitive theories emphasize future time perspective as one of the key vulnerabilities to depression. Although the role of parent as the important environmental factor in developing cognitive vulnerability for depression was recognized, the contribution of fathers is understudied. The goal of this study was to test the mediating role of future time perception on relation between paternal autonomy support and psychological control on depression in late adolescent girls. A sample consisted of 118 high school graduate girls, average age 18.11 years. The following questionnaires were applied: Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale (P- PASS), Future time perception (FTP), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). Results show that fathers’ behavior was correlated with girls’ depression and future time perception. Fathers’ autonomy support was negatively, and psychological control was positively associated with perception of the future as limited and with depressive symptoms. According to regression analysis only fathers’ support for autonomy was significant predictor of depression in the first step but not in the second step when future time perception was entered. The results confirmed mediating role of future time perception in the relationship between the fathers’ autonomy support and depression. Fathers’ support for autonomous behavior leads to more positive expectations of future and consequently lower levels of depressive symptoms. Results stress the importance of fathers’ support for their daughters’ independent decisions and initiatives during adolescence. This kind of behavior help girls to perceive their future as open and also prevent development of depressive symptoms.

future time perception ; depression ; fathers ; adolescent girls

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