The Effects of the Perceived Parental Experience on Life Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults and the Mediating Role of Depression

This study examined the relationship between perceived parental experiences and life satisfaction among emerging adults, with depression serving as a mediating variable. Specifically, the study investigated how perceived maternal and paternal experiences influence depressive symptoms and overall life satisfaction among members of a Charismatic Catholic community in the Philippines. A quantitative, non-experimental research design utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed. The participants consisted of 203 emerging adults aged 18 to 29 years old selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data were gathered using the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ) for Mother and Father, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Descriptive statistics revealed that respondents perceived their mothers with high acceptance and low rejection (Mdn = 109.00, MAD = 26.00), while fathers were perceived with moderate acceptance and rejection (Mdn = 123.00, MAD = 25.00). Respondents likewise demonstrated mild mood disturbances (Mdn = 16.00, MAD = 7.00) and high life satisfaction (Mdn = 37.00, MAD = 4.00). Structural model analysis showed that maternal perceived parental experience significantly predicted depression (β = 0.448, p < .001), while paternal experience also significantly predicted depression (β = 0.136, p = .019). Depression significantly predicted life satisfaction (β = -0.576, p < .001). Furthermore, depression fully mediated the relationship between perceived parental experiences and life satisfaction, with maternal experiences showing a stronger indirect effect (β = -0.258, p < .001) than paternal experiences (β = -0.078, p = .026). The findings emphasize the critical role of depression in linking adverse parental experiences to diminished life satisfaction among emerging adults.