Relationships between different dimensions of parentification according to gender and prediction level of parentification dimensions for psychological symptoms

Parentification, a kind of dysfunction in the family system, is defined as a role change between parent and child. Parentification phenomenon occurs when the child or adolescent is forced to take parental responsibilities inappropriately or earlier than the appropriate time. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationships between the Turkish version of the Filial Responsibility Scale (FRS-A) and the Turkish version of the Parentification Scale (PI). The extent to which the scales predicted the psychological symptoms were evaluated separately. The sample of the study consisted of 197 college students (99 females and 98 males), aged between 19 and 23 (M = 21.10, SD = 1.38). Relationships between FRS and PI sub-dimensions were tested separately for women and men using Pearson's correlation analyses. The results of the analyses indicated that the relationships between the sub-dimensions of both scales were significant. Two hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the predictive effects of the FRS-A and the PI on psychological symptoms. The results of the regression analysis indicated that the model based on the parentification type (FRS-A dimensions) estimated 22.3% of the variance of psychological symptoms. On the other hand, the model based on whom the parentification is intended for (PI dimensions) estimated 18% of the variance of psychological symptoms.