Parental depression and interparental conflict: children and adolescents' self-blame and coping responses.
The present study examined the role of children and adolescents' perceptions of self-blame specific to interparental conflict and children and adolescents' coping behaviors in the context of parental depression as predictors of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in a sample of 108 youth (age 9-15 years old) of parents with a history of depression. Higher levels of current depressive symptoms in parents were associated with higher levels of interparental conflict and higher levels of internalizing symptoms in children and adolescents, and interparental conflict was positively associated with both internalizing and externalizing symptoms in children/adolescents. Consistent across a series of multiple regression models, children and adolescents' perceptions of self-blame and use of secondary control coping (acceptance, distraction, cognitive restructuring, positive thinking) were significant, independent predictors of both internalizing and externalizing symptoms.
Department of Psychology & Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. jessica.fear@vanderbilt.edu
Jessica M
JM
Fear
Jennifer E
JE
Champion
Kristen L
KL
Reeslund
Rex
R
Forehand
Christina
C
Colletti
Lori
L
Roberts
Bruce E
BE
Compas
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D002648:Child; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology*; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic