Parental depression and offspring disorders: A developmental perspective.

Abstract

Parental influences on the behavior and development of offspring pose questions that are among the oldest and most intractable in the human sciences. Parental depression as an influence is a special case within this larger domain. The research questions and methods, as well as the level of research understanding, are similar in the diverse content areas of parent-offspring associations. Although some principles of transmission undoubtedly generalize across domains, it is likely, too, that biological and behavioral properties specific to a given parental condition, such as parental depression, introduce into these processes additional unique forces. Hence, consideration of both common and unique factors acting together is necessary for an understanding of depressed parent-offspring interdependencies.With this perspective, the focus of this chapter is on the linkages between parental depression and offspring problems from a developmental perspective. Primary consideration is given to parental behavior, recognizing that the contributions of biological variables must be factored in for a full understanding of the processes underlying maladaptive social, emotional, and cognitive functioning in offspring of depressed parents. Indeed, genetic en-155

Parental Depression as a Moderator of Secondary Deficits of Depression in Adult Offspring

“…As noted by Radke-Yarrow [37], studies of offspring's symptoms and parents' diagnoses have carved these sources of offspring impairments into separate entities. However, their separateness is meaningful only as a first step in seeking to understand transmission processes.…”

“…However, their separateness is meaningful only as a first step in seeking to understand transmission processes. This study moves to the next step of integrating multiple contributors to offspring's well-being by examining the combinations of offspring depression and parental diagnosis that jointly affect significant areas of offspring functioning [37]. After considering the severity of offspring's current depression, parental depression status was no longer directly associated with offspring's impairment.…”

One-Year Follow-Up of Suicidal Adolescents: Parental History of Mental Health Problems and Time to Post-Hospitalization Attempt

“…Parental mental health problems have long been known to convey risk to offspring for a number of negative outcomes including depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems (Radke-Yarrow and Klimes-Dougan 2002). Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have found associations between adolescent suicidal behavior and a family history of suicidal behavior, parent–child discord, and family dysfunction (Brinkman-Sull et al 2000; Spirito et al 2003; Wagner 1997).…”

Parent and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms: The Role of Parental Attributions

“…Evidence suggests that the intergenerational transmission of depressive syndromes is attributable, in part, to disruptions in interactions between parents and youth associated with depressive symptomatology (Gotlib & Goodman, 1999; Radke-Yarrow & Klimes-Dougan, 2002). This is not to minimize the genetic and contextual risks (Goodman & Gotlib, 1999) that are shared by parent and child, or to ignore evidence that children with behavioral or emotional difficulties place a burden on parents that may contribute to their distress (Gartstein & Sheeber, 2004; Patterson, Chamberlain, & Reid, 1982).…”