Associations of working models of the self and other with Cloninger's personality dimensions.

The present study examined the associations of working models of the self and other, one of the key concepts of Bowlby's attachment theory, with the seven dimensions of Cloninger's personality model. The subjects were 542 healthy Japanese volunteers. Working models of the self and other were assessed by the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, and the seven dimensions of personality were evaluated by the Temperament and Character Inventory. In the correlation analysis, the self-model was correlated most strongly with self-directedness (SD) (r=0.50, P<0.001) and second strongly with harm avoidance (HA) (r=-0.43, P<0.001), while the other-model was correlated most strongly with cooperativeness (C) (r=0.43, P<0.001) and second strongly with reward dependence (RD) (r=0.41, P<0.001). In the principal component analysis, the self-model formed a group with SD and HA, while the other-model formed a group with C and RD. The present study suggests that the self-model is reflected in SD and HA, while the other-model is reflected in C and RD.

Parental care influences leukocyte telomere length with gender specificity in parents and offsprings.

BACKGROUND: There have been several reports suggesting that adverse childhood experiences such as physical maltreatment and long institutionalization influence telomere length. However, there has been no study examining the relationship of telomere length with variations in parental rearing. In the present study, we examined the relationship of leukocyte telomere length with parental rearing in healthy subjects. METHODS: The subjects were 581 unrelated healthy Japanese subjects. Perceived parental rearing was assessed by the Parental Bonding Instrument consisting of the care and protection factors. Leukocyte relative telomere length was determined by a quantitative real-time PCR method for a ratio of telomere/single copy gene. RESULTS: In the multiple regression analyses, shorter telomere length in males was related to lower scores of paternal care (ß = 0.139, p < 0.05), while that in females was related to lower scores of maternal care (ß = 0.195, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that there is linear relationship between parental care and telomere length which covers both lower and higher ends of parental care, and that the effects of parental care on telomere length are gender-specific in parents and offsprings.

Distinctive correlations of sociotropy and autonomy with working models of the self and other.

BACKGROUND: Beck's cognitive theory of depression postulates personality vulnerability factors termed sociotropy and autonomy, which are accompanied by characteristic interpersonal styles. Meanwhile, Bartholomew contends that negative working models of the self and other built through insecure attachment relationships are externalized as distinctive interpersonal styles. The present study examined the relationships of sociotropy and autonomy with the self- and other-models, and attempted to promote understanding of the two personality traits from an attachment perspective. METHODS: The subjects were 510 healthy Japanese medical students or hospital staffs. Sociotropy and autonomy were assessed by the Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale, and working models of the self and other were evaluated by the Relationship Scales Questionnaire. RESULTS: The sociotropy score was correlated negatively with the self-model score (ß=-0.52, p<0.001) and positively with the other-model score (ß=0.11, p<0.01). The autonomy score was correlated positively with the self-model score (ß=0.10, p<0.05) and negatively with the other-model score (ß=-0.33, p<0.001). LIMITATIONS: It may be risky to generalize the present results to general populations or other ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that both sociotropy and autonomy are associated with attachment insecurity, but the marked difference in their correlation patterns with the self- and other-models leads to the distinctive interpersonal styles of the two personality orientations.