INFLUENCE OF UNMITIGATED COMMUNION AND PARENTING STYLE ON DEPRESSION AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN OWERRI MUNICIPAL

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACKGROUND OF STUDY

The period of adolescence is a transition period between childhood and adulthood. Adolescence is marked by rapid physical growth and psychological change. It represents a particularly vulnerable phase of development in pre- adult years. It is also marked by expanding roles into more complex social environment that expose one for the first time to a widening array of stressors and life – shaping choices (Ge, Lorenz, Conger, Elder and Simons, 2010). Adolescents must sort out the conflicting demands and expectations of family, community and friends; develop insights into their changing bodies and needs; establish independence; and fashion identity for adult life (Vender Zanden, 2011). Emerging cognitive capabilities help adolescents to cope with these tasks. Adolescents are able to handle abstract ideas more logically and adeptly than in their childhood years and they are likely to examine what happens critically and thoughtfully, considering alternative solution to problems (Donvan & Adelson, 2014). Depressive symptoms are known to increase markedly between childhood and adolescence (Marcotte, Alain & Gosselin, 2013). In life, we often encounter some adolescents who tend to neglect themselves in order to meet the needs of others. Helgeson and Fritz’s research [2009] showed the effect and put forward the concept of unmitigated communion. Unmitigated communion as one kind of personality characteristic involves a focus on others and the neglect of the self. Individuals with such traits will place the needs of others above their own, paying too much attention to others and neglecting themselves [Helgeson, V.S. and H.L. Fritz, 2009]. Parenting style was defined as encompassing both contextual and individual aspects of a parent’s child rearing, and distinguished this concept from more content – and goal – specific parenting practices and behaviours. Various studies proposed that parenting styles vary along two separate dimensions: demandingness (control) and responsiveness (acceptance) and that crossing these dimensions yields separate categories of parenting styles. The early onset of depression and the increasing rate of depression in youngsters warrant concern and systematic study of causes and consequences of adolescent depression (Hammen & Brennan, 2015).Empirical studies have shown that unmitigated communion and parenting style can affect individuals’ physiology, cognition and behavior in an extensive way