Depressed Kya ?

Depression in the family

Interplay between Genetic, Biological , Contextual , Cognitive, Interpersonal factors in the family

Biopsychosocial Framework

Genes + parenting behaviors contribute to temperament

Temperament and parenting contribute to child's appraisal and response to stress

Appraisal then interacts with stress to produce depression

Genetics (Moderator of individuals responses to adversity)

Children of depressed parents are more likely to be depressed than normal controls

However this could be confounded by psychosocial factors like maladaptive parenting styles, marital dysfunction, and stress, which are also associated with parental psychopathology

(Page 229)

Twin studies:

Genetics accounts for 30-50% variance in child-reported depression.

Moderate role for genetic influences on individual differences

Adoption studies :

Genetics has a negligible effect !

Negligible role for genetic influences on individual differences

Early onset depression : more when there is a family history, and greater when this is associated with environmental contributions 

BOTH provide evidence for ENVIRONMENTAL role !

It is not the general qualities of some facet of the environment, but rather how these qualities influence an individual and how he or she interacts with this part of the environment across developmental stages.

Temperament and personality (Generally thought to be greatly genetic, although environment influences the same:  Therefore, certain types of personalities : Increased risk for depression)

Temperament defined as : “Constitutionally based individual differences in emotional, motor,  attentional reactivity and self-regulation”

Personality : “Tendency to behave , think and feel in certain consistent ways”

            B. Gender / Family Environment  (Moderators)

 

       A. Temperament                   C. Mood disorders (Depression) 

A – C (direct effect) – moderated by B

Positive and Negative emotionality

            B. Temperament (Moderator)

            A. Parenting                    C. Depression

Most probable model :

Contextual factors (Parent behaviors) + Children's temperaments = Increase/ Decrease the likelihood of children developing emotional & behavioral problems 

MEDIATORS

 

Temperament             Appraisals / Expectations / Coping             Mood disorders (Depression) 

 

Temperament             Parenting                                                   Mood disorders (Depression)

Conclusion :

(a) Temperament is transmitted partly genetically, although environment can influence it

(b) Temperament likely influences parenting behaviors

(c) Temperament influences family environment and children's outcomes

Parenting and Temperament = Risk Factors 

Family Environment – Depression

 

   FES =

  Parental Psychopathology

  Attachment

  Child rearing practices

  Communication

  Interaction patterns

Interesting thing is : Perceptions abut FES is JUST as predictive as actual FES in predicting depressive symptoms

                                    Mediator

Parenting                  Perception of FES                      Mood disorders (Depression)

Problem with observational studies :

Direction of effects is not disentangled

Ecological Validity ( how representative are lab studies of real interactions?)

2 important mediation questions :

(a) Is the relation between parental and child depression mediated by parenting ?

 

Parent depression                 Parenting behavior                     Child Depression

(b) Is the relation between parenting behaviors and child depression mediated by Negative Cognitions ?

 

Parent behaviors                   Negative Cognitions                  Child Depression

LIMITATIONS of STUDIES

Most studies are cross-sectional and not longitudinal (multiple time points)

Few studies have controlled for auto correlations

Few studies have tested the reverse direction models

Family effects on the course of depression : 5 course meal !

Onset, persistence, recurrence, course and maintenance of depression

Aspects of parent-child relationship: Maternal discipline

Depressed children : Described their parents as controlling, authoritarian , critical, rejecting, angry

Parenting Dimensions of rejection/ criticism ; acceptance/ warmth ; control/ intrusiveness

as well as perceived parenting dimensions of the above are significantly associated with depressive symptoms in the children

Same and multiple informant reports are BOTH important :)

Assessments :

Family Environment Scale

Childrens report of parents behavior

Five minute speech sample (Magena et al, 1986) to assess parental attitudes and EE

Observations during lab interaction

Parent perceptions seem to be stable over time

Predictors of depression :

Perception of family environment

Parental EE
Observed parental behaviors

Low family cohesion

(lower family support and greater conflict)

Dimensions of parenting through Observational data

 

Warmth            Hostility            Disciplining skills

Worse outcomes

Family stress

Low social competence

EE

Better outcomes

Increasing positive interactions

Reducing / Eliminating negative parenting

Child's own behavior : may exacerbate the problem

Dysfunctional parenting                  Negative cognitions    Depression

Mediation ?

( Cognitive Schema about self, others, world) : Children feeling 'acceptable' and loved