Parenting profiles and adult children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms: the protective role of forgiveness

Early negative parenting practices have long been implicated in the etiology of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adult children. Yet, little is known about how parenting behaviors would interact with adult children's forgiveness toward parents in the expression of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adulthood. Understanding the interplay between parenting and forgiveness may be crucial for identifying refined treatments in psychosocial interventions for mental health problems. The study consisted of a sample of adults (N = 287, mean age = 24.17, 74.2% female), who completed questionnaires online about their perceived parenting behaviors in childhood/adolescence, forgiveness toward their parents, and current internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Approximately 75% of the sample reported hurt caused by parental injustice. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to derive maternal and paternal parenting profiles from two positive (warmth and behavioral control) and two negative (hostility and psychological control) parenting behaviors. Maternal parenting profiles and forgiveness toward mother were associated with adult children's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Paternal parenting profiles were associated only with internalizing symptoms. However, adult children who experienced more positive paternal parenting had fewer externalizing symptoms compared to individuals who experienced more negative paternal parenting but only under conditions of high levels of forgiveness toward father. Results provide evidence that forgiveness toward parents may protect children from mental health issues, but also highlight the effects of paternal parenting on externalizing symptoms which may vary by individual differences in forgiveness.