Remission of depression in parents: links to healthy functioning in their children

Child Dev. 2011 Jan-Feb;82(1):226-43. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01552.x.

Abstract

This study examined whether improvement in parents' depression was linked with changes in their children's depressive symptoms and functioning. Participants were 223 parents and children ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old (M = 12.13, SD =2.31); 126 parents were in treatment for depression and 97 parents were nondepressed. Children were evaluated 6 times over 2 years. Changes in parents' depressive symptoms predicted changes in children's depressive symptoms over and above the effect of time; children's symptoms significantly predicted parents' symptoms. Trajectories of children's depressive symptoms differed significantly for children of remitted versus nonremitted depressed parents, and these differences were significantly predicted by their parents' level of depression. The relation between parents' and children's depressive symptoms was partially mediated by parental acceptance.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / therapy*
  • Child of Impaired Parents / psychology*
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Object Attachment
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Personality Assessment

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents