Family functioning as perceived by parents and young offspring at high and low risk for depression

Emotion regulation strategies and depression in mother-adolescent dyads: An actor-partner interdependence model approach

Parent-adolescent emotion dynamics have attracted increasing attention in recent years because adolescence is a challenging period for both adolescents and parents. However, how emotions are coconstructed between parents and adolescents is less clear. This study examined whether mothers' and adolescents' emotion regulation strategy was linked with their own and each other's depression using the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). The participants were 173 mother-adolescent pairs (Mother: Mage = 43.05 years old, SD = 3.78; Adolescent: Mage = 13.00 years old, SD = 0.90). The results showed that the more mothers used cognitive reappraisal, the lower their depression levels were; and the more mothers and adolescents used expressive suppression, the higher their levels of depression were. Additionally, maternal expressive suppression was associated with adolescent depressive symptoms. Moreover, the results revealed that for mothers with higher levels of expressive suppression, their adolescents' usage of expressive suppression was significantly positively related to adolescents' depression, while for those mothers with lower levels of expressive suppression, there was no significant correlation between adolescents' usage of expressive suppression and depression. The findings underscore the significance of recognising the interdependence and interconnected nature of emotions within parent-adolescent relationships for a comprehensive understanding of their emotional well-being.

Hispanic adolescents' internalizing symptoms and positive family functioning: A bidirectional examination of associations over time

Open communication with parents, defined as perceived ease of adolescent-parent disclosure, and family support are components of positive family functioning linked with fewer adolescent internalizing symptoms. However, relatively little is known about bidirectional pathways over time. Even less is known about bidirectional pathways for Hispanic adolescents or about the role of adolescent and parent gender. Therefore, this study examined bidirectional pathways between positive family functioning and adolescent internalizing symptoms over time in a sample of Hispanic middle school adolescents (N = 340; 51% female, Mage = 13.27 years, SD = .77), who completed surveys in the fall of 2016 (Time 1) and the spring of 2017 (Time 2; N = 284; 52% female). Results indicated that positive family functioning, including open communication with mothers and fathers, predicted fewer depressive symptoms for girls, but not for boys. Open communication with fathers predicted fewer anxiety symptoms for girls and boys. Girls' depressive symptoms, but not boys', predicted decreases in open communication with fathers. Boys' depressive symptoms predicted less family support. Unexpectedly, boys' anxiety symptoms predicted increased family support. These findings highlight gendered pathways linking family functioning and internalizing symptoms in Hispanic adolescents over time, including the relative importance of open communication with fathers. Gendered findings emphasize the utility of family-based prevention and early intervention programs targeting internalizing symptoms, especially for Hispanic girls. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Validation of the European Portuguese Version of the Iceland-Expressive Family Functioning Questionnaire (ICE-EFFQ)

A family's experience of mental illness can change the family's functioning. In clinical contexts, valid and reliable instruments that assess family functioning, therapeutic changes, and the effects of family nursing interventions are needed. This study focuses on the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the Iceland-Expressive Family Functioning Questionnaire (ICE-EFFQ) to European Portuguese and examines the psychometric properties of this instrument. A non-random sample of 121 Portuguese depressed patients and their relatives completed the questionnaire. Principal components analysis extracted 4 factors, explaining 55.58% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed acceptable adjustment quality indices. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was adequate for the global scale α = .86 and for the 4 subscales: communication α = .79, expression of emotions α = .68, problem-solving α = .71, and cooperation α = .61. The Portuguese version of ICE-EFFQ is a sensitive, valid, and reliable instrument for use with Portuguese families with adult members with depression and can be valuable in assessing these families' expressive functioning, before and after intervention.

Family Functioning, Maternal Depression, and Adolescent Cognitive Flexibility and Its Associations with Adolescent Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

This study explores family functioning and its associations with adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD), comparing its dynamics with healthy counterparts. Family functioning (cohesion, flexibility, communication, and satisfaction), maternal depressive symptoms, postpartum depression history, parental divorce, parental alcohol abuse, and the adolescents' cognitive flexibility, are examined. The research incorporates the perspectives of both adolescents and mothers.

METHODS

The sample includes 63 mother-teenager dyads in the clinical group and 43 in the control group. Instruments encompass the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES IV), Children's Depression Inventory (CDI-2), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), The Brixton Spatial Anticipation Test, and structured interviews.

RESULTS

Families of adolescents with MDD exhibit lower flexibility, cohesion, communication, and overall satisfaction. Depressed adolescents display reduced cognitive flexibility. Discrepancies were observed between adolescents' and mothers' perspectives as associated with adolescents' MDD. Teenagers emphasized the severity of maternal depressive symptoms, while mothers highlighted the importance of family cohesion and flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes a holistic strategy in addressing adolescent depression, including family-based assessment and therapy. Screening for maternal depressive symptoms is identified as valuable. Cognitive flexibility also needs to be addressed during therapy for depression in adolescence.

The impact of family functioning on depression in college students: A moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

The depression of college students is increasing. Family dysfunction is a potential risk factor for depression. More research is needed to uncover the relationship and influencing mechanism. Based on this, this study examined the mediating effect of coping style and the moderating effect of gender in family functioning and depression among college students.

METHODS

From May to June 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2033 college students (16-24 years old) from universities in Anhui Province, China, including 1285 females (63.21 %) and 748 males (36.79 %), with an average age of 19.81 years old (SD = 1.22 years old). There were 651 (32.02 %) only child. Family functioning was assessed by Family Assessment Device, coping style was assessed by Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and depression was assessed by Self-rating Depression Scale. Common method bias was performed by Harman's single-factor test. Mediating effect was analyzed by stepwise regression. Moderating effect was analyzed by moderated multiple regression.

RESULTS

There was no serious common method bias in this study. Good family functioning had a negative predictive effect on depression in college students (r = -0.56, p < 0.001). Coping style partially mediated the predictive effect of family functioning on depression, and the mediating effect accounted for 33.73 % of the total effect. The interaction term of family functioning and gender was significant predictor of coping style (β = 0.33, t = 2.69, p < 0.05) and depression (β = -1.98, t = -2.46, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Good family functioning is a negative predictor of depression in college students. Coping style plays a partial mediating role between family functioning and depression. The first half path and the direct path of the mediation model are modulated by gender.

Depression in the next generation is related with maternal behaviors: A cross-comparison by alternating rat's mother care

This study investigated the potential impacts of depressive rats' maternal behavior as an early life stress on the outcome of offspring as an adulthood. Offspring from the same mother were divided into two groups, half of them were fostered or remained by a depressive mother, and the other half remained or fostered by a control mother, respectively. The results showed that offspring fostered by depressive mothers presented significant depressive behaviors. Meanwhile, depressive mothers engaged in more grooming during the light cycle, but less off-the-pup behavior during the dark phase. In conclusion, offspring exposed to a postnatal depressive maternal environment developed a depressive-like behavior. Contrarily, postpartum maternal behaviors play an essential role, which might determine the outcome of the next generation. Furthermore, the appropriate timing of postpartum maternal caring sequences, which might eliminate prenatal stressful influences, was recognized and might be a promising approach for reducing children's predisposition to mental disorders in their life time.

Parenting style and its effect on eating disorders and substance abuse across the young population

This article attempts to examine the occurrence of two behavioural changes, namely, substance abuse and eating disorders in order of onset mediated by ineffective parenting styles during young age. The four parenting styles and their consequential behavioural adverse effects are taken as the focal point of this study and are synthesized to provide an outlook on the status of ineffective parenting and deviant offspring behaviours. A review of literature was primarily undertaken to examine the characteristic features of ineffective parenting. A causal relationship was then drawn between the onset of behavioural disorders with an emphasis on substance abuse and eating disorders, along the parenting spectrum. We probed into the order and directionality of the offspring behavioural changes against ineffective parenting. The current available data shows the superimposition of the parenting style spectrum on a bell-shaped distribution of behavioural outcomes as exemplified by authoritarian, permissive and neglectful parenting as a prime determinant of several disorders among the young age; parenting styles being at the extremities of the parenting spectrum. The sweet spot of parenting, mainly associated to the authoritative approach, bears the most positive effect on the growing child. The extreme ends of parenting as per the varying degree of responsiveness and demandingness, generally observed in authoritarian and neglectful parenting precipitate concomitant deviant behaviours cascading from one another; intricately linking substance abuse and eating disorders. A number of studies describe the isolated effects of ineffective parenting on the development of substance abuse and eating disorders during the adolescent period. However, the relationship between both eating disorders and substance abuse is underplayed and need to be stressed upon to tailor behaviour-specific targeted therapies and restore the normalcy of these altered behaviours.

How the parenting style adopted can lead to a concurrent amalgam of disordered eating patterns and substance abuse.

How disordered eating behaviours and substance abuse are initiated as coping strategies to deal with the consequences of poor parenting.

Isolation of specific risk factors to deter the development of those deviant behaviours in addition to improvement of parenting methods.

Mental health in children of parents being treated by specialised psychiatric services

BACKGROUND

One in ten children have a parent diagnosed with a mental illness by specialised psychiatric services. Severe parental mental illness is a well-established risk factor for children's mental health problems, making the identification and support of these children a public health concern. This study investigated the mental health and family context of children of parents diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder in this clinical setting.

METHODS

Parental reports on 87 children aged 8-17 years were analysed. The children's mental health was compared with that of a Swedish population-based sample. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate associations between child mental health and child gender, child age, parent symptoms and social status, family functioning, and perceived parental control. Furthermore, a cumulative risk index explored the effect of multiple risk factors on child mental health.

RESULTS

The children reportedly had significantly more mental health problems than did the population-based sample and about one-third had scores above the clinical cut-off. A significant multiple linear regression explained 49% of the variance in child mental health, with lower perceived parental control and younger child age being associated with more child mental health problems. With more reported risk factors, children reportedly had more mental health problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The results underline the importance of identifying a patient's children and assessing multiple relevant risk factors in the child's life. Furthermore, the results indicate that the needs of younger children and of patients in their parenting role are important to address.

COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Restrictions: Factors That May Affect Perinatal Maternal Mental Health and Implications for Infant Development

This review aims to discuss the factors that may affect maternal mental health and infant development in COVID-19 pandemic condition. Toward this direction, the two objectives of this review are the following: (a) to discuss possible factors that may have affected negatively perinatal mental health through the pandemic-related restrictions; and (b) to present the implications of adversely affected maternal emotional wellbeing on infant development. We conclude that the pandemic may has affected maternal mental health with possible detrimental effects for the infants of the COVID-19 generation. We highlight the need for evidence-based interventions to be integrated within the health system for prenatal and postpartum care in an effort to promote maternal mental health and infant development.

Perceived Support and Sense of Social Belonging in Young Adults Who Have a Parent With a Mental Illness

This participatory action research explores the perceived social support of youth whose parents have a mental illness during their transition to adulthood. Social support is an important protection factor during this developmental period, but few studies have explored how these young adults perceive their social support. Nor has any study assessed whether participation in a group-based participatory action research project could improve these youth's sense of support. Purpose: (1) identify which aspects of social support these youth spontaneously address when talking about their experiences in Photovoice workshops; (2) explore how participants view these types of workshops as a good way to improve their sense of social support and belonging. Methodology: Ten young adults (nine women and one man) between the ages of 18 and 25 who have at least one parent with a mental illness participated in Photovoice meetings in 2019. These group meetings aimed to explore and share their experiences as young adults whose parents have a mental illness. The testimonies were combined with data obtained from the abbreviated version of the Social Provisions Scale and the Scale of Social Belonging. Results: The quantitative results suggest that participants consider their social support levels to be high, but their qualitative statements highlight low level or absence of parental support in terms of emotional, informative or instrumental levels. They see themselves as an important source of support for their parent and discuss the importance of having other supports figures (romantic partner, employer, friends, sibling, etc.). Conversely, they have difficulty asking for help for various reasons (including fear of stigma). They consider that their participation in this Photovoice project allowed them to feel heard, supported and to develop a sense of belonging to a group. Discussion: To conclude, clinical issues to be considered for psychosocial intervention with young adults of parents with a mental illness are discussed.

Associations among Bullying Victimization, Family Dysfunction, Negative Affect, and Bullying Perpetration in Macanese Adolescents

Bullying has become one of the most significant problem behaviors that school-aged adolescents face. The current study examines the strain-delinquency relationship by employing General Strain Theory as a guiding framework. "Strain" was operationalized as bullying victimization and family dysfunction, "delinquency" was operationalized as bullying perpetration, and "negative affect" was operationalized as anxiety and depression. Analyses were carried out based on a group of 2,139 Macanese schoolchildren. Using a structural equation modeling technique, the results revealed that exposure to family dysfunction and bullying victimization was associated with adolescents' negative affect, such as anxiety and depression. Contrary to our expectations, the indirect effect of victimization on bullying through negative affect was negative, though the mediation effect was relatively small and only significant in boys. In addition, gender analyses of invariance showed that male adolescents who experienced more family conflict and parental control were less likely to engage in bullying. This study could lead to further anti-bullying interventions and practical efforts designed to improve positive parenting and adolescents' interpersonal skills.

Self-management of depression among Chinese community individuals: A cross-sectional study using the transtheoretical model

PURPOSE

To investigate the self-management of depression among members of a Chinese community.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Wuhan. The Depression Prevention and Management Survey was used to identify 429 participants' stage of change, perceived benefits, process of change and self-efficacy, based on the transtheoretical model perspective.

FINDINGS

A majority of participants (69.0%) were at the inactive stage of depression self-management. The mean score of the process of change was 87.62 (SD = 24.83). ANOVA analysis showed gender, education, and family function were significant influencing factors in the process of change.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Mental health nurses need to target their approach to the level of the individual based on the transtheoretical model to assist them to enhance their awareness and motivation. More consideration should be given to gender, education, and family function in the context of depression self-management.

Associations of Family Functioning and Social Support With Psychopathology in Children of Mentally Ill Parents: Multilevel Analyses From Different Rating Perspectives

Offspring of mentally ill parents is at heightened risk for psychological symptoms. The identification of environmental factors that predict their mental health is crucial for the development of preventive and therapeutic measures. In the current study, we addressed the combined role of family functioning and social support by taking mentally ill patients’, their partners’, and children’s perspectives into account. The cross-sectional sample included n=195 families (195 patients, 127 partners, and 295 children). Family members completed questionnaires related to family functioning, social support as well as parental and child psychopathology. We conducted multilevel analyses to investigate the associations with internalizing and externalizing problems in children. Family functioning and social support were significantly associated with child internalizing and externalizing problems. However, results varied depending on the rating perspective. We found significant interaction effects of family functioning and social support on child psychopathology. The findings point to the importance of family functioning and social support as potential targets for interventions. Findings should be replicated in future longitudinal studies.

Linking Foster Family Characteristics and Mental Health Symptoms of Youth in Care

Youth in foster care are disproportionately at risk for developing internalizing and externalizing problems (Lawrence et al., 2006); however, a history of maltreatment prior to foster care placement does not automatically result in poor mental health outcomes. Among non-foster care youth, the quality of family interactions has been related to adjustment outcomes, such that low family cohesion and high family conflict is associated with poor mental health symptoms (Caples & Barrera, 2006). While little is known about these constructs in foster care placements, they may help explain the variance in internalizing and externalizing problems for youth in foster care. The present study aimed to examine whether characteristics of the foster care environment (i.e., conflict, cohesion) across various placement types (i.e., traditional foster homes, group-care settings) could help explain the link between previous maltreatment exposure and mental health problems. The sample included 178 youth in foster care (M age  = 15.18, SD = 1.76) and their foster caregivers living in the Midwest. Youth participants completed self-report measures about prior maltreatment history, current family environment characteristics, and youth internalizing symptoms. Foster caregivers completed measures on current family environment and youth externalizing symptoms. Results indicated that caregiver report, but not youth report, of family cohesion was negatively associated with youth report of internalizing problems. When examining the indirect effects, youth report of family conflict partially accounted for the link between youth self-report of maltreatment and internalizing symptoms (B = 0.106, 95% CI = 0.026-0.186). Caregiver report of family conflict fully accounted for the association between youth self-report of maltreatment and caregiver report of youths' externalizing symptoms (B = 0.108, 95% CI = 0.005-0.211). Findings highlight the importance of utilizing multiple informants when measuring foster family environment and suggest that family conflict is particularly salient for the mental health of youth in foster care.

Family Functioning in Families Affected by Parental Mental Illness: Parent, Child, and Clinician Ratings

Family functioning is often impaired in families with a parent with mental illness and is linked to child mental health. This study aims to gain a better understanding of family functioning in affected families by comparing ratings among family members and by analyzing associations with clinician-rated family functioning. The cross-sectional sample comprised 210 families with ratings of 207 patients, 139 partners, and 100 children. Parents with a mental illness as well as their partners and children completed the German version of the Family Assessment Measure (FAM). Clinician ratings were obtained by the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning Scale (GARF). We conducted several mixed models to compare ratings of family functioning while accounting for family cluster. Family dysfunction was consistently elevated compared to a normative sample. On several domains, parents with a mental illness perceived family functioning to be worse compared to their partners and children. Partners and children did not differ in their perceptions of family functioning. Ratings of family members were moderately associated with clinician ratings. We discuss the importance of multi-informant assessment of family functioning and the implementation of family-based interventions for families with a parent with mental illness.

The influence of family therapy on psychological stress and social adaptability of depressed patients

BACKGROUND

with the increase of study and life pressure, the number of depressed college students showed an increasing trend year by year, and the drug treatment alone could not achieve a comprehensive recovery of depression patients, so it was more necessary to pay attention to the spiritual treatment.

OBJECTIVE

this research aimed to better understand the relationship between college students' depression and life events, social support, psychological pressure, and coping style, and the influence of systematic family therapy on depression degree, psychological stress, and social adaptability of college students with depression.

METHODS

in this study, 105 college students with depression were selected as the research object, and healthy college students were taken as the control group. Through questionnaire, the differences in life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles between the groups were compared. The correlation between the degree of depression and various variables were analyzed, and the impact path of each variable on depression was analyzed using the path analysis model. Depression patients were then divided into a conventional group treating with conventional medications and an observation group treating with systematic family interventions. Differences in Hamilton Depression Scale-17, (HAMD-17), CPSS, and Social Adaptive Functioning Evaluation (SAFE) scores were compared and analyzed between the two groups before treatment (T1), during the treatment (T2), and after treatment(T3).

RESULTS

there were significant differences in scores of life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles between the healthy control group and the depressed patients (P < 0.05). There was an obvious correlation between different depression degrees and life events, social support, psychological stress, and coping styles (P < 0.05). Life events, social support, and psychological stress had a direct and significant impact on depression (0.250, 0.218, and 0.392; P < 0.05), and they also had an indirect and significant impact on depression through coping styles (P < 0.05). The systematic family treatment model could significantly reduce HAMD-17 and CPSS scores (P < 0.05), and significantly improve SAFE scores (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

adverse life events, lack of social support, excessive psychological stress, and negative coping styles can aggravate college students' depression. Systematic family therapy can improve the degree of depression, reduce the psychological stress, and enhance the social adaptability of college students with depression.

Postpartum depression and family function in Chinese women within 1 year after childbirth: A cross-sectional study

Family-related factors are reported to influence the development of postpartum depression (PPD), but limited studies have considered the role of family function in this condition. This study aimed to describe the proportion of people with probable or suspected PPD and to determine the relationships among PPD, family function, and obstetric factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 630 women who attended six integrated teaching and scientific research communities in Changsha, China. Instruments included the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the risk factors of PPD. The prevalence of probable or suspected PPD was 37% in this sample. We found communication (odds ratio [OR] = 3.795, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.619-8.897), affective responsiveness (OR = 2.685, 95% CI = 1.642-4.301), role (OR = 2.483, 95% CI = 1.041-5.922), and general functioning (OR = 5.704，95% CI = 2.233-14.569) dimensions of FAD, and type of feeding (OR = 2.700, 95% CI = 1.285-5.671) influenced PPD in the context of Chinese culture. To decrease the prevalence of PPD, interventions such as health education programs and cognitive behavior therapy to strengthen family function are recommended among couples during and after pregnancy.

Relationships between family functioning, parenting and peer victimization in adolescent depression: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Major depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescence is a prevalent mental health problem with a complex etiology and a rising incidence. The aim of the study investigated functioning of family, attitudes of parents, and peer victimization in adolescents with MDD and to compare those with healthy adolescents.

METHODS

The study was designed as a multi-center, cross-sectional, case-control study. 98 adolescents diagnosed with MDD and 99 healthy controls were recruited for the study. Beck depression inventory, parental attitude research instrument (PARI) tool, family assessment device (FAD), and multidimensional peer victimization scale (MPVS) were applied to all participants. Descriptive, correlational, and bivariate group comparisons were used in analyses.

RESULTS

The average ages of adolescents with MDD and control adolescents were 14.7 (S.D.=1.5) and 15.0 (S.D.=1.6) years, respectively. Females formed 74.5% of youth with MDD (vs. 70.3% of controls). The groups were similar in terms of socio-demographic features (all p>0.05). Adolescents with MDD had significantly elevated scores in FAD subscales except problem solving, PARI rejection of homemaking, marital conflict, and authoritarian subscales, and all MPVS subscales. Adolescents with MDD also displayed significant positive correlations between all MPVS subscales and FAD subscales except FAD problem-solving.

CONCLUSION

This cross-sectional, multi-center study suggests that family dysfunction and peer victimization may be higher in youth with MDD. Although cross-sectional design precludes evaluation of causality, it may be prudent to evaluate family functions as well as peer victimization of depressed youth.

Perceived family adaptability and cohesion and depressive symptoms: A comparison of adolescents and parents during COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To compare the differences of depressive symptoms and perceived family cohesion and adaptability between adolescents and parents during the pandemic; to explore the association between depressive symptoms and family cohesion and adaptability.

METHODS

A total of 8,940 adolescents (45.77% males; Mean age=15.31±0.018 years old) and their parents (24.34% males; Mean age=40.78±0.60 years old) from Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, participated in the survey and completed several questionnaires online. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Family Adaptability Cohesion Scale, Second Edition, Chinese version (FACES II-CV) to evaluate depressive symptoms and family cohesion and family adaptability from the perception of parents and adolescents.

RESULTS

Results indicated significant differences between adolescents' and parents' perspectives of family functions. Significant negative correlations exist between depressive symptoms and family cohesion and family adaptability from the perspectives of both adolescents and parents. In addition, regression models with demographic characteristics adjusted showed that the perceived family cohesion and adaptability of parents and adolescents and the agreements between them could be predicted by their depressive symptoms.

LIMITATION

Cross-sectional study and limited population-wide are limitations.

CONCLUSION

Detecting the depressive symptoms of adolescents and parents earlier and promptly providing family intervention are of great significance to promote their perceptions of family cohesion and adaptability, which contribute to the mental health development of adolescents and parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Leveraging the developmental science of psychosocial risk to strengthen youth psychotherapy

More than 50 years of randomized clinical trials for youth psychotherapies have resulted in moderate effect sizes for treatments targeting the most common mental health problems in children and adolescents (i.e., anxiety, depression, conduct problems, and attention disorders). Despite having psychotherapies that are effective for many children, there has been a dearth of progress in identifying the contextual factors that likely influence who will respond to a given psychotherapy, and under what conditions. The developmental psychopathology evidence base consistently demonstrates that psychosocial risk exposures (e.g., childhood adversities, interpersonal stressors, family dysfunction) significantly influence the onset and course of youth psychopathology. However, the developmental psychopathology framework remains to be well integrated into treatment development and psychotherapy research. We argue that advances in basic developmental psychopathology research carry promising implications for the design and content of youth psychotherapies. Research probing the effects of psychosocial risks on youth development can enrich efforts to identify contextual factors in psychotherapy effectiveness and to personalize treatment. In this article we review empirically supported and hypothesized influences of individual- and family-level risk factors on youth psychotherapy outcomes, and we propose a framework for leveraging developmental psychopathology to strengthen psychotherapies.

Default mode network activity in depression subtypes

Depression continues to carry a major disease burden worldwide, with limitations on the success of traditional pharmacological or psychological treatments. Recent approaches have therefore focused upon the neurobiological underpinnings of depression, and on the "individualization" of depression symptom profiles. One such model of depression has divided the standard diagnostic criteria into four "depression subtypes", with neurological and behavioral pathways. At the same time, attention has been focused upon the region of the brain known as the "default mode network" (DMN) and its role in attention and problem-solving. However, to date, no review has been published of the links between the DMN and the four subtypes of depression. By searching the literature studies from the last 20 years, 62 relevant papers were identified, and their findings are described for the association they demonstrate between aspects of the DMN and the four depression subtypes. It is apparent from this review that there are potential positive clinical and therapeutic outcomes from focusing upon DMN activation and connectivity, via psychological therapies, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and some emerging pharmacological models.

Application of the actor-partner interdependence model in parent-adolescent emotion regulation and depression

BACKGROUND

The family environment is an important context for the development and maintenance of depressive symptoms within families. In this study, we evaluated whether parent and adolescent self-reports of emotion regulation constructs are linked with their own (actor effects) and each other's (partner effects) depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Participants were 123 adolescent-parent dyads, recruited from adolescent inpatient and partial hospitalization programs, who completed self-report assessments of emotion dysregulation and depression.

RESULTS

Using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), results revealed expected actor effects for emotion regulation strategies, but not impulsiveness. A significant partner effect for parents' impulsiveness and adolescents' depressive symptoms was observed, demonstrating the interdependent nature of these characteristics in the sample. Interpretation of APIM model coefficients indicated that greater parent impulsiveness was associated with less adolescent depression symptom severity.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include a small sample of primarily Caucasian adolescents who were receiving intensive psychiatric services making generalizability more challenging. The sample also consisted of largely mothers which is important to consider given there are known gender differences in rates of depression and sensitivity to interpersonal processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, findings shed light on the nature of these characteristics within the families of depressed adolescents and the role of emotion regulation in the parent-child relationship. Implications of this work and future studies are discussed.

Higher Rates of Sleep Disturbance Among Offspring of Parents With Recurrent Depression Compared to Offspring of Nondepressed Parents

OBJECTIVE

Youth who have a parent with recurrent depression are at high risk for mental health problems. There is a need to identify transdiagnostic and clinically actionable mechanisms that explain higher rates of psychopathology among high-risk youth. The present study sought to examine whether offspring of depressed parents exhibit greater parent- and self-reported sleep disturbance, shorter sleep duration, and later sleep midpoint compared to youth without any parental psychopathology.

METHOD

Participants included 82 youth, including 41 youth (ages 9-13; mean age = 11.07 years; 46% female) deemed to be at high-risk based on having a parent with a recurrent depression history, and 41 (mean age = 11.16 years; 49% female) at low-risk based on having parents without any history of psychopathology. Youth and their parents completed measures of youth sleep disturbance, and youth completed measures of sleep duration and midpoint using a daily sleep diary for 9 days.

RESULTS

Offspring of parents with depression exhibited more sleep disturbance (e.g., problematic nighttime behaviors and daytime sleepiness) than low-risk youth as reported by both parents and youth. For parent-reported sleep disturbance, there were also sex differences. High-risk girls had more sleep disturbance than high-risk boys or low-risk girls. There were no group differences for daily sleep duration and midpoint.

CONCLUSION

Sleep disturbance may be an important area for assessment among offspring of parents with depression. Our findings highlight one potential transdiagnostic risk factor that may emerge among high-risk youth, and sex-specific differences in sleep disturbance, which have implications for prevention and intervention.

Associations between maternal depressive symptoms, children’s behavioral problems and perceptions regarding family interactions

Abstract The aim of this study was to verify possible associations between maternal depressive symptoms, children’s behavioral problems and perceptions regarding the family interactions, considering the reports of mothers and children. A total of 60 mothers and their school-age children were divided into two equal groups, according to the presence or absence of maternal depression indicators, and evaluated using the following instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and scales of family interaction (Escalas de Qualidade nas Interações Familiares). The results indicate that maternal depressive symptoms were associated with children’s behavioral problems and with family interactions reported by mothers and children. Maternal depression and positive family interactions reported by the mothers predicted behavioral problems in children. Positive family interactions reported by the mothers also mediated the association between maternal depression and children’s behavioral problems, highlighting the relevance of interventions with mothers with depression indicators that have school-age children.

The Prospective Impact of Family Functioning and Parenting Practices on Court-Involved Youth's Substance Use and Delinquent Behavior

Court-involved youth exhibit high rates of psychiatric symptoms, substance use, and delinquency, yet little is known about the contributing roles of caregiver and family factors. The current study examined whether family functioning and parental monitoring mediate the relationship between caregiver and youth psychiatric symptoms (at first court contact) and youth substance use and delinquency (two years later). Participants were 400 first-time offending court-involved youth (M_age = 14.5 years; 57.3% male; 45.6% non-Latinx White, 42.0% Latinx) and an involved caregiver (M_age = 41.0 years; 87.2% female; 53.0% non-Latinx White, 33.8% Latinx). Structural equation modeling revealed that caregiver and youth psychiatric symptoms were prospectively associated with worse family functioning, which was in turn related to higher levels of youth delinquency and greater likelihood of substance use. The results support the notion of addressing the needs of justice-involved youth and families holistically rather than treating youth as "the problem" in isolation.

Genetic basis of depressive disorders

Depression is a common mental disorder being one of the main causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Despite an intensive research during the past decades, the etiology of depressive disorders (DDs) remains incompletely understood; however, genetic factors are significantly involved in the liability to depression. The present review is focused on the studies based on a candidate gene approach, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and whole exome sequencing (WES), which previously demonstrated associations between gene polymorphisms and DDs. According to the first approach, DD development is affected by serotonergic (TPH1, TPH2, HTR1A, HTR2A, and SLC6A4), dopaminergic (DRD4, SLC6A3) and noradrenergic (SLC6A2) system genes, and genes of enzymatic degradation (MAOA, COMT). In addition, there is evidence of the involvement of HPA-axis genes (OXTR, AVPR1A, and AVPR1B), sex hormone receptors genes (ESR1, ESR2, and AR), neurotrophin (BDNF) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes, neuronal apoptosis (CASP3, BCL-XL, BAX, NPY, APP, and GRIN1) and inflammatory system (TNF, CRP, IL6, IL1B, PSMB4, PSMD9, and STAT3) genes in DD development. The results of the second approach (GWAS and WES) revealed that the PCLO, SIRT1, GNL3, GLT8D1, ITIH3, MTNR1A, BMP5, FHIT, KSR2, PCDH9, and AUTS2 genes predominantly responsible for neurogenesis and cell adhesion are involved in liability to depression. Therefore, the findings discussed suggest that genetic liability to DD is a complex process, which assumes simultaneous functioning of multiple genes including those reported previously, and requires future research in this field.

 

Neural correlates of emotion processing predict resilience in youth at familial risk for mood disorders

Aberrant face emotion processing has been demonstrated in youth with and at a familial risk for bipolar and major depressive disorders. However, the neurobiological factors related to emotion processing that underlie resilience from youth-onset mood disorders are not well understood. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data during an implicit emotion processing task were collected at baseline from a sample of 50 youth, ages 8-17, who were healthy but also familially at high risk for either bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder, and 24 healthy controls with no family history of psychopathology (HCL). Participants were reevaluated 3 years later and classified into three groups for analysis: high-risk youth who converted to a psychiatric diagnosis (CVT; N = 23), high-risk youth who were resilient from developing any psychopathology (RES; N = 27), and HCL youth (N = 24) who remained healthy at follow-up. For happy &gt; calm faces, the CVT and RES groups had significantly lower activation in the left inferior parietal lobe (IPL), while the RES group had lower activation in the right supramarginal gyrus. For fear &gt; calm faces, the RES group had lower activation in the right precuneus and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) compared to the CVT group. Connectivity analyses revealed the RES group exhibited higher left IPL connectivity with visual cortical regions for happy &gt; calm faces, and higher IFG connectivity with frontal, temporal, and limbic regions for fear &gt; calm faces. These connectivities were correlated with improvements in prosocial behaviors and global functioning. Our findings suggest that differential activation and connectivity in the IPL, IFG, and precuneus in response to emotional stimuli may represent distinct resilience and risk markers for youth-onset mood disorders.