The relevance of early parental experiences to adult dependency, hypochondriasis and utilization of primary physicians

Abstract

The possible relationships between early parental experiences and three adult characteristics regarded as having a care‐eliciting component (dependency, hypochondriasis and utilization of health care services) were examined in a study of 100 consecutive patients attending their general practitioner. Assessment of presumed ongoing fundamental parental characteristics was made, together with assessment of parental response to childhood illness in the subjects. Those scoring highest on each of the three dimensions under examination remembered one or both of their parents as highly likely to call a doctor in response to childhood illness in the subjects. Dependent subjects scored their fathers in such a way as to suggest an intense paternal involvement in their child. Those who scored high on hypochondriasis scored their fathers as highly overprotective and their mothers as highly caring. When ill they scored both parents as evidencing more sympathy, and their mothers as more likely to call the doctor, than parents of remaining subjects.