Maternal Depression and the Intergenerational Transmission of Religion

Abstract

This study tests the hypothesis that maternal depression (major depressive disorder; MDD) decreases rates of the intergenerational transmission of religiosity from mother to offspring and attenuates the beneficial qualities of religiosity in offspring. Depression was assessed using semistructured clinical interviews; religiosity was assessed based upon the personal importance of religion, frequency of attendance at religious services, and religious denomination. Results suggest that (1) maternal depression attenuates the intergenerational transmission of religion; (2) in the presence of maternal depression, offspring were more likely to have MDD at 10-year follow-up when mother-offspring were concordant on religious importance; and (3) in the absence of maternal depression, offspring were less likely to have MDD at 10-year follow-up when mother-offspring were concordant on attendance. Thus, in the presence of maternal depression, transmission of religious attendance is no longer associated with decreased likelihood of offspring MDD, whereas transmission of religious importance is associated with increased likelihood of offspring depression.

Genetic correlates of spirituality/religion and depression: A study in offspring and grandchildren at high and low familial risk for depression.

“…Parental expression and transmission of spirituality may be mitigated by a mood disorder generating a depressogenic outlook (Gur, Miller, Warner, Wickramarantne, & Weissman, 2005). However, previous research on this same sample shows that the intergenerational transmission of religious denomination, (whether or not there is high level of parental spirituality) decreases the likelihood of transmission of depression and anxiety in offspring (in both high and low-risk groups) by 91% (Jacobs et al, 2012).…”

Family religion and psychopathology in children of depressed mothers: Ten-year follow-up

“…Previously we found that the transmission of religion from mother to adult offspring (as measured by correlations between mother and offspring ratings on personal importance of religion or spirituality and frequency of attendance at religious services) was attenuated by maternal depression status (Gur et al, 2005). In addition, concordance of denomination, a measure indicating successful transmission of religious denomination within a mother and offspring pair, was associated with a 71% decreased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adult offspring (Miller et al, 1997).…”

“…Whether this risk is due to the impact of maternal depression on offspring development, genetic transmission of predisposition to depression, or some combination of the two is unclear (Kendler, et al, 2006). Gur et al (2005) showed that cross-sectional significant positive correlations between mother and offspring ratings of personal importance of religiosity and frequency of attendance at religious services occurred only in the absence of maternal depression. The authors proposed that maternal depression prevents offspring from receiving the protective benefits of religion, which may put them at risk for the development of their own pathology.…”

“…In addition, concordance of denomination, a measure indicating successful transmission of religious denomination within a mother and offspring pair, was associated with a 71% decreased risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) in adult offspring (Miller et al, 1997). However, when looking at the associations between concordance of attendance and importance by maternal depression status, it was found that maternal MDD attenuated the protective benefits of religiosity in offspring and that offspring who were concordant with their depressed mothers on personal importance were at greater risk for depression (Gur et al, 2005). …”

Parent-Adolescent Relationship Quality as a Moderator for the Influences of Parents’ Religiousness on Adolescents’ Religiousness and Adjustment

“…Prior studies of adults and emerging adults indicate that the intergenerational transmission of religiousness is more likely to occur in families characterized by high warmth and support (Abar, Carter, & Winsler, 2009; Hardy, White, Zhang, & Ruchty, 2011). Conversely, maternal depression decreases rates of the intergenerational transmission of religiousness from mother to offspring and further attenuates the beneficial qualities of religiousness in offspring (Gur, Miller, Warner, Wickramaratne, & Weissman, 2005). To our knowledge, only one study examined the moderating function of parenting characteristics in the transmission process among adolescents.…”