Negative features of parenting such as depression and psychological control increase the risk of breaking up childhood friendships finds a study. The results showed that for children with clinically depressed parents the risk of best friendship dissolution increased by up to 104 per cent Xinhua reported. There was a similar although not quite as dramatic increase in the risk of best friendship dissolution for children with psychologically controlling parents. Parent depression and parent psychological control uniquely predicted subsequent child friendships breaking up above and beyond contributions of peer difficulties. We already know that peer status plays an important role in