Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-vsgnj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-20T10:50:56.497Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Parental Depression and Child Behaviour Problems: Implications for Behavioural Family Intervention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Hyman Hops
Hyman Hops*
Affiliation:
Oregon Research Institute
Get access

Abstract

This report explores the role of parental depression in the adjustment of children and discusses its implications for behavioural family intervention. Within a social interactional perspective, depression is conceptualised as a class of behaviours that is under the control of the social environment and at the same time operates as a context for other social agents. The presence of this class of behaviours in parents is postulated to precipitate developmentally determined psychological problems, that is based on a child's age and sex, such that younger boys and adolescent girls would be most at risk. The results of two longitudinal studies are presented showing a significant relation between fluctuations in mothers' depressive symptoms and similar symptoms in their adolescent daughters. Weaker effects are seen between fathers' and sons' depressive levels. The implications for behavioural family therapy are discussed in relation to depression in adolescent girls.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behaviour Change , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , September 1992 , pp. 126 - 138
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alexander, J.F., & Parsons, B.V. (1973). Short-term behavioral intervention with delinquent families: Impact on family process and recidivism. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 81, 219–225.Google Scholar
Amenson, C.S., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (1981). An investigation into the observed sex difference in prevalence of unipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 90, 1–13.Google Scholar
Andrews, J.A., Hops, H., Ary, D., Lichtenstein, E., & Tildesley, E. (1991). The construction, validation and use of a Guttman scale of adolescent substance use: An investigation of family relationships. Journal of Drug Issues, 21, 557–572.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ary, D., Tildesley, E., Hops, H., & Andrews, J. (in press). The influence of parent, sibling, and peer modeling and attitudes on adolescent use of alcohol. International Journal of the Addictions.Google Scholar
Beck, A.T., Ward, C.H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J.E., & Erbaugh, J.K. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.Google Scholar
Biglan, A. (1989). A contextual approach to the clinical treatment of parental distress. In Singer, G.H.S. & Irvin, L.K. (Eds.), Support for caregiving families: Enabling positive adaptation to disability (pp. 299–311). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.Google Scholar
Biglan, A., Hops, H., & Sherman, L. (1988). Coercive family processes and maternal depression. In Peters, R. DeV. & McMahon, R.J. (Eds.), Social learning and systems approaches to marriage and the family (pp. 72–103). New York: Brunner/Mazel.Google Scholar
Biglan, A., Hops, H., Sherman, L., Friedman, L.S., Arthur, J., & Osteen, V. (1985). Problem-solving interactions of depressed women and their husbands. Behavior Therapy, 16, 431–451.Google Scholar
Biglan, A., Rothlind, J., Hops, H., & Sherman, L. (1989). Impact of distressed and aggressive behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 98, 218–228.Google Scholar
Biglan, A., & Thorsen, C. (1986). Problem-solving interactions of women with chronic pain: The role of depression. Unpublished manuscript, Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, OR.Google Scholar
Blechman, E.A. (1981). Competence, depression, and behavior modification with women. In Hersen, M., Eisler, R.M., & Miller, P.M. (Eds.), Progress in behavior modification (Vol. 12, pp. 227–263). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Brown, R.A., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (1984). A psychoeducational approach to the treatment of depression: Comparison of group, individual, and minimal contact procedures. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 774–783.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, G., Lewinsohn, P., & Hops, H. (1990). Leader's manual for adolescent groups: Adolescent coping with depression course. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Cohn, J.F., Campbell, S.B., Matias, R., & Hopkins, J. (1990). Face-to-face interactions of postpartum depressed and nondepressed mother-infant pairs at 2 months. Developmental Psychology, 26, 15–23.Google Scholar
Coyne, J.C. (1976). Depression and the response of others. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 186–193.Google Scholar
Coyne, J.C., Kessler, R.C., Tal, M., Turnbull, J., Wortman, C.B., & Greden, J. (1987). Living with a depressed person: Burden and psychological distress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 347–352.Google Scholar
Dadds, M.R., Schwartz, S., & Sanders, M.R. (1987). Marital discord and treatment outcome in behavioral treatment of child conduct disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 396–403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dishion, T.J., & Ray, J. (1991, 08). The development and ecology of substance use in adolescent boys. In Wills, T. (Chair), Adolescent substance use: Current theoretical models. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.Google Scholar
Dodge, K.A. (Ed.). (1990). Developmental psychopathology in children of depressed mothers [Special section]. Developmental Psychology, 26(1).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downey, G., & Coyne, J.C. (1990). Children of depressed parents: An integrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 50–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumas, J.E. (1989). Let's not forget the context in behavioral assessment. Behavioral Assessment, 11, 231–247.Google Scholar
Dumas, J.E., & Gibson, J.A. (1990). Behavioral correlates of maternal depressive symptomatology in conduct-disorder children: II. Systemic effects involving fathers and siblings. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 58, 877–881.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumas, J.E., Gibson, J.A., & Albin, J.B. (1989). Behavioral correlates of maternal depressive symptomatology in conduct-disorder children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 516–521.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duncan, T.E., Hops, H., & Davis, B. (1992). Assessing individual versus group effects in longitudinal data: A methodological comparison. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Duncan, T.E., McAuley, E., Stoolmiller, M., & Duncan, S.C. (1992). Serial fluctuations in exercise behavior as a function of social support and efficacy cognitions. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Elder, G.H. Jr., Van Nguyen, , & Caspi, A. (1985). Linking family hardship to children's lives. Child Development, 56, 361–375.Google Scholar
Ellis, A., & Grieger, R. (1977). Handbook of rational-emotive therapy. New York, NY: Springer.Google Scholar
Eme, R.F. (1979). Sex differences in childhood psychopathology: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 574–595.Google Scholar
Fendrich, M., Warner, V., & Weissman, M.M. (1990). Family risk factors, parental depression, and psychopathology in offspring. Developmental Psychology, 26, 40–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Forehand, R., Brody, G.H., Long, N., & Fauber, R. (1988). The interactive influence of adolescent and maternal depression on adolescent social and cognitive functioning. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 12, 341–350.Google Scholar
Forehand, R., Long, N., Brody, G.H., & Fauber, R. (1986). Home predictors of young adolescents' school behavior and academic performance. Child Development, 57, 1528–1533.Google Scholar
Forehand, R., Wells, K., & Griest, D. (1980). An examination of the social validity of a parent training program. Behavior Therapy, 11, 488–502.Google Scholar
Forgatch, M.S., & Patterson, G.R. (1989). Parents and adolescents living together: Part 2. Family problem solving. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Friedman, L.S. (1984). Family interactions among children of unipolar depressed mothers: A controlled naturalistic observation study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR.Google Scholar
Furey, W., & Forehand, R. (1984). An examination of predictors of mothers' perceptions of satisfaction with their children. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2, 230–243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaensbauer, T.J., Harmon, R.J., Cytryn, L., & McKnew, D.H. (1984). Social and affective development in children with a manic-depressive parent. American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 223–229.Google ScholarPubMed
Gelfand, D.M., & Teti, D.M. (1989, 08). Intervention to aid infants of depressed women: First results. Paper presented at the 97th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.Google Scholar
Gelfand, D.M., & Teti, D.M. (1990). The effects of maternal depression on children. Clinical Psychology Review, 10, 329–353.Google Scholar
Ghodsian, M., Zajicek, E., & Wolkind, S. (1984). A longitudinal study of maternal depression and child behavior problems. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 25(1), 91–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gonzales, L., Lewinsohn, P.M., & Clarke, G. (1985). Longitudinal follow-up of unipolar depressives: An investigation of predictors of relapse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 461–469.Google Scholar
Gotlib, I.H., & Colby, C.A. (1987). Treatment of depression: An interpersonal systems approach. New York, NY: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Hammen, C. (1991). Depression runs in families: The social context of risk and resilience in children of depressed mothers. New York: Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Hammen, C.L., Gordon, D., Burge, D., Adrian, C., Jaenicke, C., & Hiroto, D. (1987). Maternal affective disorders, illness, and stress: Risk for children's psychopathology. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 736–741.Google ScholarPubMed
Hayes, S.C. (Ed.) (1989). Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control. New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Hetherington, E.M., Cox, M., & Cox, R. (1978). The aftermath of divorce. In Stevens, J.H. & Mathews, M. (Eds.), Mother/child, father/child relationships (pp. 110–155). Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.Google Scholar
Hill, J.P., Holmbeck, G.N., Marlow, L., Green, T.M., & Lynch, M.E. (1985). Menarcheal status and parent-child relations in families of seventh grade girls. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 14, 314–330.Google Scholar
Hill, J.P., & Lynch, M.E. (1983). The intensification of gender-related role expectations during early adolescence. In Brooks-Gunn, J. & Petersen, A. (Eds.), Girls at puberty: Biological and psychosocial perspectives (pp. 201–208). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Hops, H., Biglan, A., Sherman, L., Arthur, J., Friedman, L., & Osteen, V. (1987). Home observations of family interactions of depressed women. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 341–346.Google Scholar
Hops, H., Lewinsohn, P.M., Andrews, J.A., & Roberts, R.E. (1990). Psychosocial correlates of depressive symptomatology among high school students. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 19, 211–220.Google Scholar
Hops, H., Lewinsohn, P.M., & Seeley, J. (1991, 04). Parental dysphoria and marital distress: Predictors of adolescent adjustment. In Hops, H. (Chair), Contextual relationship, and parenting predictors of child/adolescent adjustment: Multi-agent, multi-method approaches. Symposium conducted at the 1991 meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.Google Scholar
Hops, H., & Seeley, J. (1992, 03). Family interaction as mediators of stress on adolescent adjustment. In Reinherz, H. (Chair), Depressive symptoms in adolescence: Developmental, familial and environmental perspectives. Symposium conducted at the Fourth Biennial Meetings of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Hops, H., & Seeley, J.R. (in press). Parent participation effects in studies of family interaction: Methodological and substantive considerations. Behavioral Assessment.Google Scholar
Hops, H., Sherman, L., & Biglan, A. (1990). Maternal depression, marital discord, and children's behavior: A developmental perspective. In Patterson, G.R. (Ed)., Depression and aggression in family interaction (pp. 185–208). New York: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Hops, H., Tildesley, E., Lichtenstein, E., Ary, D., & Sherman, L. (1990). Parent-adolescent problem-solving interactions and drug use. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse, 16, 239–258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huston, A.C. (1983). Sex-typing. In Mussen, P.H. (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology (4th ed., pp. 387–467). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Jacobson, N.S., Fruzzetti, A., Dobson, K., Whisman, M., & Hops, H. (in press). Marital therapy as a treatment for depression II: The effects of marital relationship quality and therapy on depressive relapse. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.Google Scholar
Jaenicke, C., Hammen, C., Zupan, B., Hiroto, D., Gordon, D., Adrian, C., & Burge, D. (1987). Cognitive vulnerability in children at risk for depression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 15, 559–572.Google Scholar
Johnston, L.D., O'Malley, P.M., & Bachman, J.G. (1991). Drug use among American high school seniors, college students and young adults, 1975–1990: Vol. 1. High school seniors. Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse.Google Scholar
Kashani, J.H., Beck, N.C., Hoeper, E.W., Fallahi, C., Corcoran, C.M., McAllister, J.A., Rosenberg, T.K., & Reid, J.C. (1987). Psychiatric disorders in a community sample of adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 584–589.Google Scholar
Klerman, G.L., Weissman, M.M., Rounsaville, B.J., & Chevron, E. (1984). Interpersonal psychotherapy of depression. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Kochanska, G., Kuczynski, L., & Maguire, M. (1989). Impact of diagnosed depression and self-reported mood on mothers' control strategies: A longitudinal study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 17, 493–511.Google Scholar
Lewin, L., Hops, H., Aubuschon, A., & Budinger, T. (1988). Predictors of maternal satisfaction regarding clinic-referred children: Methodological considerations. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 17, 159–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Antonuccio, D., Steinmetz, J., & Teri, L. (1984). The coping with depression course: A psychoeducational intervention for unipolar depression. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., & Atwood, G. (1969). Depression: A clinical research approach. The case of Mrs. G. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 6, 166–171.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Clarke, G.N., Hops, H., & Andrews, J. (1990). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for depressed adolescents. Behavior Therapy, 21, 385–401.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Hoberman, H., Teri, L., & Hautzinger, M. (1985). An integrative theory of depression. In Reiss, S. & Bootzin, R. (Eds.), Theoretical issues in behavior therapy (pp. 331–359). New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Hops, H., Roberts, R.E., Seeley, J.R., & Andrews, J.A. (in press). Adolescent psychopathology: I. Prevalence and incidence of depression and other DSM-III-R disorders in high school students. Journal of Abnormal Psychology.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P., Rohde, P., Hops, H., & Clarke, G. (1991). Leader's manual for parent groups: Adolescent coping with depression course. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., & Shaffer, M. (1971). Use of home observations as an integral part of the treatment of depression: Preliminary report and case studies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 37, 87–94.Google Scholar
McLean, P.D., Ogston, L., & Grauer, L. (1973). Behavioral approach to the treatment of depression. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 4, 323–330.Google Scholar
O'Leary, K.D., & Beach, S.R.H. (1990). Marital therapy: A viable treatment for depression and marital discord. American Journal of Psychiatry, 147, 183–186.Google Scholar
Orvaschel, H., Walsh-Allis, G., & Ye, W. (1988). Psychopathology in children of parents with recurrent depression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 17–28.Google Scholar
Patterson, G.R. (1982). Coercive family process. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Patterson, G.R., & Capaldi, D. (1990). A mediational model for boys' depressed mood. In Rolf, J., Masten, A.S., Cicchetti, D., Nuechterlein, K.H., & Weintraub, S. (Eds.), Risk and protective factors in the development of psychopathology (pp. 141–163). New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Patterson, G.R., & Forgatch, M.S. (1987). Parents and adolescents living together: Part 1. The basics. Eugene, OR: Castalia.Google Scholar
Pederson, F.A. (1983). Differentiation of the father's role in the infancy period. In Vincent, J.P. (Ed.), Advances in family intervention, assessment and theory (Vol. 3, pp. 185–208). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.Google Scholar
Phares, V. (1992). Where's Poppa?: The relative lack of attention to the role of fathers in child and adolescent psychopathology. American Psychologist, 47, 656–664.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Phares, V., & Compas, B.E. (1992). The role of fathers in child and adolescent psychopathology: Make room for daddy. Psychological Bulletin, 111, 387–412.Google Scholar
Poppen, R.L. (1989). Some clinical implications of rule-governed behavior. In Hayes, S.C. (Ed.), Rule-governed behavior: Cognition, contingencies, and instructional control (pp. 325–357). New York, NY: Plenum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radke-Yarrow, M. (1990). Family environments of depressed and well parents and their children: Issues of research methods. In Patterson, G.R. (Ed)., Depression and aggression in family interaction (pp. 169–184). New York: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Radke-Yarrow, M., Cummings, E.M., Kuczynski, L., & Chapman, M. (1985). Patterns of attachment in two-and three-year-olds in normal families and families with parental depression. Child Development, 56, 884–893.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Radke-Yarrow, M., Richters, J., & Wilson, W.E. (1988). Child development in a network of relationships. In Hinde, R. & Stevenson-Hinde, J. (Eds.), Individuals in a network of relationships, (pp. 48–67). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Radloff, L.S. (1977). A CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.Google Scholar
Radloff, L.S., & Rae, D.S. (1979). Susceptibility and precipitating factors in depression: Sex differences and similarities. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 88, 174–181.Google Scholar
Reid, W.H., & Morrison, H.L. (1983). Risk factors in children of depressed parents. In Morrison, H.L. (Ed.), Children of depressed parents (pp. 33–46). New York: Grune & Straton.Google Scholar
Roberts, R.E., Andrews, J.A., Lewinsohn, P.M., & Hops, H. (1990). Assessment of depression in adolescents using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Psychological Assessment, 2, 122–128.Google Scholar
Robin, A.L., & Foster, S.L. (1989). Negotiating parent-adolescent conflict: A behavioral-family systems approach. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Robins, L.N., & Regier, D. (1991). Psychiatric disorders in America. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Rutter, M. (1990). Commentary: Some focus and process considerations regarding effects of parental depression on children. Developmental Psychology, 26, 60–67.Google Scholar
Rutter, M., Tizard, J., Yule, W., Graham, P., & Whitmore, K. (1976). Isle of Wight studies, 1964–1974. Psychological Medicine, 6, 313–332.Google Scholar
Sanders, M.R., Dadds, M.R., Johnston, B., & Cash, R. (in press). Childhood depression and conduct disorder I: Behavioural, affective and cognitive aspects of family problem solving. Journal of Abnormal Psychology.Google Scholar
Seligman, M.E.P., & Peterson, C. (1986). A learned helplessness perspective on childhood depression: Theory and research. In Rutter, M., Izard, C.E., & Read, P.B. (Eds.), Depression in young people: Developmental and clinical perspectives (pp. 223–249). New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Teri, L. (1982). Depression in adolescence: Its relationship to assertion and various aspects of self-image. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 11, 101–106.Google Scholar
Velez, C.N., Johnson, H., & Cohen, P. (1989). A longitudinal analysis of selected risk factors for childhood psychopathology. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 28, 861–864.Google Scholar
Wahler, R.G. (1980). The insular mother: Her problems in parent-child treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 207–219.Google Scholar
Weintraub, S., Winters, K.C., & Neale, J.M. (1986). Competence and vulnerability in children with an affectively disordered parent. In Rutter, M., Izard, C.E., & Read, P.B. (Eds.), Depression in young people (pp. 205–220). New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Weissman, M.M., Gammon, G.D., John, K., Merikangas, K.R., Warner, V., Prusoff, B.A., & Sholomskas, D. (1987). Children of depressed parents: Increased psychopathology and early onset of major depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 44, 847–853.Google Scholar
Weissman, M.M., John, K., Merikangas, K.R., Prusoff, B.A., Wickramaratne, P., Gammon, G.D., Angold, A., & Warner, V. (1986). Depressed parents and their children: General health, social, and psychiatric problems. American Journal of Diseases of Children, 140, 801–805.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wells, K.C., & Forehand, R. (1985). Conduct and oppositional disorders. In Bornstein, P.H. & Kazdin, A.E. (Eds.), Handbook of clinical behavior therapy with children (pp. 218–265). Homewood, IL: The Dorsey Press.Google Scholar
Youngren, M.A., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (1980). The functional relationship between depression and problematic interpersonal behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89, 644–654.Google Scholar
Zahn-Waxler, C., Cummings, E.M., McKnew, D.H., & Radke-Yarrow, M. (1984). Affective arousal and social interactions in young children of manic-depressive parents. Child Development, 55, 112–122.Google Scholar
Zeger, S.L., & Liang, K.Y. (1986). The analysis of discrete and continuous longitudinal data. Biometrics, 42, 121–130.Google Scholar