Being Mum’s Confidant, a Boon or Bane? Examining Gender Differences in the Association of Maternal Disclosure with Adolescents’ Depressive Feelings

Abstract

This article reports on a longitudinal study investigating gender differences in the association between maternal disclosure and adolescents’ depressive symptoms. Little research has examined the relationship of parental disclosure to adolescents’ depressive symptoms and research on sex differences is particularly lacking. In a sample of 428 families with a mean age of 13.36 (52% female) of the target adolescents, maternal and children’s disclosure and depressive symptoms were assessed twice with an interval of 4 years. Controlling for the quality of the parent–child relationship and levels of maternal depressive symptoms, the analyses revealed an interaction effect for child’s gender, moderating the effect of maternal disclosure on adolescents’ depressive symptoms. Higher levels of maternal disclosure were accompanied by lower levels of depressive symptoms in girls and higher levels of depressive symptoms in boys. Gender differences in socialization, communication, individuation and social networks might explain why daughters and sons are differently affected by maternal disclosure.

“It is OK to let them know you are human too”: Mentor self‐disclosure in formal youth mentoring relationships

“…In a study of postdivorce mothers, Koerner et al () found that mother‐to‐daughter self‐disclosure did not build closeness; rather, in some instances it decreased daughter’s reports of closeness and increased psychological distress for some daughters through increased worry for their mothers. Other research has shown higher levels of maternal disclosure is associated with higher levels of depressive feelings reported by sons, but not daughters (Lichtwarck‐Aschoff et al, ).…”

“…In a study of patterns of disclosure and relationship satisfaction in families, researchers found that, in most cases, higher levels of self-disclosure to family members was linked to greater satisfaction in familial relationships for parents and children (Finkenauer et al, 2004). Similarly, Lichtwarck-Aschoff, Finkenauer, van de Vorst, and Engels (2012) reported a positive correlation between self-disclosure and relationship quality for mothers and their adolescents. Martin and Anderson (1995) found relationship satisfaction between fathers and sons was not a result of the amount of self-disclosure in their relationship.…”

Attitudes Toward Parental Disclosures to Children and Adolescents by Divorced and Married Parents

“…A child's age may also influence perspectives about the appropriateness of parental disclosures. Most studies on parental disclosures have sampled adolescents (e.g., Afifi et al, ; Afifi, Afifi, & Coho, ; Koerner et al, ; Lichtwarck‐Aschoff et al, ) or young adults (e.g., Afifi, ; Donovan et al, ). Studies comparing disclosures made to children of different ages have found that parental disclosures made to younger children may be judged more harshly than disclosures made to older children, particularly when disclosures are considered developmentally inappropriate (Afifi et al, ).…”

“…Conversely, parental disclosures may be harmful to children if the disclosures contain information that is negative, hurtful to the other parent, or developmentally inappropriate, or if they require children to play mediator, counselor, or judge in the middle of their parents' interactions (Afifi, McManus, Hutchinson, & Baker, 2007). For example, parents' negative disclosures to children about the other parent (e.g., talking badly about the other parent) are associated with declines in children's mental and physical health (Afifi & McManus, 2010) and psychological well-being Koerner et al, 2004;Lichtwarck-Aschoff, Finkenauer, van de Vorst, & Engels, 2012). Such disclosures are also associated with higher levels of emotional distress Koerner et al, 2004;Schrodt & Afifi, 2007) and behavioral problems (e.g., substance use; Koerner et al, 2004) among children.…”

“…Daughters' emotional reactions to disclosures have been shown to manifest in the form of physical and psychological symptoms, including higher incidences of anxiety and physical illnesses (Afifi & McManus, 2010). Sons are not exempt, though, from disclosure-related consequences; Lichtwarck-Aschoff et al (2012) found that parental disclosures were associated with higher depressive symptoms for sons than for daughters, and Koerner et al (2004) found associations between parental disclosures and negative child outcomes (i.e., adolescent adjustment difficulties) among both sons and daughters.…”