The role of depression in perceived parenting style among patients with anxiety disorders

► No differences were found on perceived parenting style between patients with anxiety disorders and a student control group when self-reported depressive symptoms were taken into consideration. ► The different diagnostic anxiety groups did not differ on perceived parenting style when controlling for depressive symptoms. ► Self-reported depressive symptoms as well as comorbid depression were more consistently associated with perceived parenting style than were anxiety disorder diagnosis or self-reported anxiety symptoms. ► Results did not demonstrate a specific association between a controlling parenting style and anxiety disorders; however, they support lack of parental care as being a small to moderate risk factor for the development of depression.