Parental acceptance-rejection in the development of social anxiety in the childhood: The mediating role of automatic thoughts

Children's perception of parental rejection has negatively influenced their psychological adjustment and functioning. Further, this perception of rejection is assumed to have an effect on their cognitions about self and the world. The main purpose of the present study is to examine the mediating role of automatic thoughts in the relationship between maternal rejection and social anxiety. The sample consisted of 389 fifth-grade students (211 girls, 178 boys) from various elementary schools in Ankara. The participants completed Demographic Information Form, Child/Adolescent Parental Acceptance Rejection Questionnaire: Mother, Cognitive Triad Inventory for Children and Social Anxiety Scale for Children-Revised. Findings of the path analysis showed that negative automatic thoughts significantly mediated the relationship between perceived coldness, neglect and undifferentiated rejection from mother, and social anxiety. In other words, as long as the maternal rejection increases, negative thoughts about self, future and the world increase so does social anxiety. Moreover, girls scored higher than boys in terms of undifferentiated rejection and negative thoughts. That maternal rejection triggers cognitive mechanisms and leads to vulnerability for social anxiety may contribute to theoretical and practical understanding in order to increase children's social functioning.