Predictors of Positive Outcomes in Offspring of Depressed Parents and Non-depressed Parents Across 20 Years.
Understanding differences in factors leading to positive outcomes in high-risk and low-risk offspring has important implications for preventive interventions. We identified variables predicting positive outcomes in a cohort of 235 offspring from 76 families in which one, both, or neither parent had major depressive disorder. Positive outcomes were termedresilientin offspring of depressed parents, andcompetentin offspring of non-depressed parents, and defined by two separate criteria: absence of psychiatric diagnosis and consistently high functioning at 2, 10, and 20 years follow-up. In offspring of depressed parents, easier temperament and higher self-esteem were associated with greater odds of resilient outcome defined by absence of diagnosis. Lower maternal overprotection, greater offspring self-esteem, and higher IQ were associated with greater odds of resilient outcome defined by consistently high functioning. Multivariate analysis indicated that resilient outcome defined by absence of diagnosis was best predicted by offspring self-esteem; resilient outcome defined by functioning was best predicted by maternal overprotection and self-esteem. Among offspring of non-depressed parents, greater family cohesion, easier temperament and higher self-esteem were associated with greater odds of offspring competent outcome defined by absence of diagnosis. Higher maternal affection and greater offspring self-esteem were associated with greater odds of competent outcome, defined by consistently high functioning. Multivariate analysis for each criterion indicated that competent outcome was best predicted by offspring self-esteem. As the most robust predictor of positive outcomes in offspring of depressed and non-depressed parents, self-esteem is an important target for youth preventive interventions.
Child Study Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
R Eric
RE
Lewandowski
Department of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Helen
H
Verdeli
Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Priya
P
Wickramaratne
Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Virginia
V
Warner
Psychology Department, Pace University, Pleasantville, NY 10570, USA.
Anthony
A
Mancini
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Myrna
M
Weissman
Depression; Developmental psychopathology; Functioning; High risk; Longitudinal; Resilience