The Role of Maternal Personality Organization and of the p Factor in Predicting Parental Distress, the Quality of Parental Care, and Offspring’s Dysregulation Symptoms

BACKGROUND: It has been posited that parental distress, the quality of maternal care and offspring’s dysregulation can be predicted by maternal maladaptive characteristics. However, only a few studies have considered mothers’ personality organizations and features of the p factor in mothers as possible predictors of symptoms in their children. METHODS: In a sample of N=524 subjects, this study evaluated the effect of mothers’ personality organization and of the p factor on parental distress, parental care and offspring’s dysregulation symptoms. Mothers filled out the IPO, the ASR, and the PSI-SF; children’s teachers filled out the TRF; children were administered the PBI. RESULTS: We found that different mother groups (neurotic, borderline, psychotic organization) have distinct impact on parental distress, quality of care, and children’s dysregulation, mediated by the p factor. CONCLUSION: This study can contribute to the understanding of the key factors underpinning mothers and children’s psychopathology.