Amanda McCombs

The relationship between parental depressive mood states and child functioning

Abstract The purpose of the present paper is to review the existing literature on the relationship between parental depressive mood state and child functioning. Three samples (clinically depressed parents, clinic-referred children, and non-problem parents and children) and four types of child behavior (externalizing problems, internalizing problems, prosocial, and cognitive) were examined. In 55% of the measures examined across 34 studies, there was a negative relationship between parental depressive state and child functioning. This negative relationship occurred more often in clinically depressed parents than in the other two samples, particularly when externalizing and internalizing problems were examined. The relationship between the two variables is discussed with special reference to causal inferences, the need for within-family research, and the need to identify factors which place children at-risk or, alternately, buffer them from the deleterious influence of parental depressive mood states.

Unraveling the antecedent-consequence conditions in maternal depression and adolescent functioning

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to examine the sequential relationship between maternal depression and adolescent functioning. Maternal depression scores and eight measures of adolescent functioning, representing four areas (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, prosocial behavior and cognitive functioning), were collected at two points in time, separated by 1 yr. Adolescent functioning was assessed by teacher-completed measures and behavioral observations. Ninety-nine mothers and adolescents participated in Year 1 and 83 of these participated in Year 2. Using partial correlations, the relationship between maternal depression at Year 1 and adolescent functioning at Year 2 was examined, with adolescent functioning at Year 1 partialed out. Similarly, the relationship between adolescent functioning at Year 1 and maternal depression at Year 2 was examined, with maternal depression at Year l partialed out. The results indicated that, when maternal depression scores were collected at Year 1 and adolescent functioning was assessed at Year 2, seven of eight partial correlations were significant whereas only two of eight partial correlations were significant and in the expected direction when adolescent functioning was assessed at Year 1 and maternal depression was examined at Year 2. Furthermore, for five of the eight measures the correlations were significantly different between maternal depression serving as the antecedent and adolescent functioning serving as the antecedent. Maternal depression appears to serve as an antecedent for adolescent functioning rather than vice versa. Explanations for the findings are discussed and implications for behavior therapists are considered.

Interparental conflict and adolescent problem behavior: an examination of mechanisms.

The purpose of the present study was to examine several competing hypotheses which have been utilized to explain the negative relationship between interparental conflict and child/adolescent problems. These mechanisms of operation have included modelling, genetic transmission, disrupted parenting, the role of perceptual/appraisal processes of the conflict, and an inhibition hypothesis. One hundred and forty-two young adolescents and their mothers served as subjects. Eighty were from intact families and 62 from recently divorced families. Data were collected from the perspective of the adolescent, mother, behavioral observer, and social studies teacher. The results indicated that intact and divorced samples had to be considered separately as different pathways contributed to adolescent behavior problems in the two samples. For externalizing problems, a direct path between interparental conflict and problem behavior existed for the divorced sample whereas an indirect path through the adolescents perceptions of the conflict existed for the intact sample. The different context in which the interparental conflict occurred for the two samples was offered as an explanation of this difference. For internalizing problems a significant direct path existed between conflict and problem behavior for both samples; however, the indirect paths through the adolescents perceptions and through poor parenting skills contributed only for the divorced sample. The results suggest that various mechanisms appear to operate in influencing how interparental conflict influences behavior problems of young adolescents. Both the type of problem examined and the marital status of the parents appear important in determining the relative impact of the mechanisms. Implications for the behavior therapist are noted.