Objective: To explore the relationship between parental rearing styles and medical students’ personality characteristics. Methods: 260 medical students were assessed by the Egna Minnen Barndoms Uppfostran (EMBU)Scale and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ).Results:(1) The single children obtained higher scores than non-single children on father’s over-interference and parents’ favorite factor of EMBU ( P <0.001). (2) Parents’ score on emotional warmth was positively correlated with EPQ-E score. Mother’s scores on over-protection and over-interference, as well as father’s score on strict-punishment, were negatively correlated with EPQ-E score. (3) Father’s over-protection score was positively correlated with EPQ-P score. Parents’ score emotional warmth was negatively correlated with EPQ-P score. (4) Parents’scores on strict-punishment, refusal and denial; as well as father’s score on over-interference, were positively correlated with EPQ-N score. Father’s score on emotional warmth was negatively correlated with EPQ-N score. (5) Parents’ score on strict-punishment and mother’s scores on refusal or denial were positively correlated with EPQ-L score. Conclusion: Parental rearing styles have profound influences on the development of medical students’ personality characteristics.
