Work

The role of parent depressive symptoms in positive and negative parenting in a preventive intervention.

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: This study examined the role of parent depressive symptoms as a mediator of change in behaviorally observed positive and negative parenting in a preventive intervention program. The purpose of the program was to prevent child problem behaviors in families with a parent who has current or a history of major depressive disorder. One hundred eighty parents and one of their 9- to 15-year-old children served as participants and were randomly assigned to a family group cognitive-behavioral (FGCB) intervention or a written information (WI) comparison condition. At two months after baseline, parents in the FGCB condition had fewer depressive symptoms than those in the WI condition, and these symptoms served as a mediator for changes in negative, but not positive, parenting at 6 months after baseline. The findings indicate that parent depressive symptoms are important to consider in family interventions with a parent who has current or a history of depression.

Source: Journal of Family Psychology

DOI: 10.1037/a0028406

Authors: Rex Forehand, Jennifer C. Thigpen, Justin Parent, Emily J. Hardcastle, Alexandra Bettis, Bruce E. Compas

Institutions: University of Vermont, Vanderbilt University, San Diego State University

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health