Worldwide Mental Health Correlates of Parental Acceptance-Rejection: Review of Cross-Cultural and Intracultural Evidence

Cross-cultural and intracultural evidence converges on the conclusion that four classes of mental health issues are possible worldwide correlates of parental acceptance-rejection. Strongest evidence supports parental acceptance-rejection theory's personality subtheory that postulates a universal relationship between perceived parental acceptance-rejection and psychological adjustment. Substantial evidence also supports the likelihood of worldwide correlations between parental acceptance-rejection and three other mental health issues: (a) unipolar depression and depressed affect; (b) behavior problems, including conduct disorder, externalizing behaviors, and delinquency; and (c) substance abuse. Finally, limitations in this body of research and implications of the findings for policy and practice are discussed.