Resilience in high-risk adolescents of mothers with recurrent depressive disorder: The contribution of fathers. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahedy, Liam; Harold, Gordon T.; Maughan, Barbara; Gardner, Frances; Araya, Ricardo; Bevan Jones, Rhys; Hammerton, Gemma; Sellers, Ruth; Thapar, Anita; Collishaw, Stephan
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 65(2018)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 218
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Maternal depression -- Resilience -- Fathers -- Emotional support -- Adolescents; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.03.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the role of paternal emotional support as a resilience promoter in offspring of mothers with depression by considering the role of fathers' mental health and the quality of the couple relationship. Two hundred and sixty-five mothers with recurrent unipolar depression, partners and adolescents from Wales were assessed. Paternal emotional support, couple relationship quality, and paternal depression were assessed at baseline; adolescent mental health symptoms were assessed using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment at follow-up. Results showed evidence of an indirect pathway whereby couple relationship quality predicted paternal emotional support (β = −.21, 95% CI [−.34, −.08]; p = .002) which in turn predicted adolescent depression (β = −.18, 95% CI [−.33, −.04]; p = .02), but not disruptive behaviours (β = −.08, 95% CI [−.22, .07]; p = .30), after controlling for relevant confounders. The findings highlight that fathers and the broader family system play an important role in enhancing resilience to depression symptoms in at-risk adolescents.