Dialogues with preadolescents and adolescents: mother-child interaction patterns in affectively ill and well dyads.
This study examined affective/communicative patterns in the interactions of unipolar, bipolar, and well mothers with their preadolescent and adolescent children. As part of a large longitudinal project, mother-child interaction was assessed for two siblings ages 8 to 11 and 12 to 16. Interactional difficulties were linked to both maternal affective illness and child problem status. Preadolescent children appeared more comfortable/happy with well mothers than with affectively ill mothers. Mothers and their preadolescents were more critical/irritable with each other when the child had a psychiatric disorder. Gender differences were apparent, particularly in regard to mother's current psychiatric status. Interactions in adolescent-daughter dyads were more critical when mothers met criteria for a major depressive episode within the month. The results illuminate interactive processes through which psychopathology may be perpetuated in families.
Tarullo
L B
LB
National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
DeMulder
E K
EK
Martinez
P E
PE
Radke-Yarrow
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment