1
|
Shek DTL, Li X, Yang B, Yang J. Is parental anxiety related to child anxiety? Insights from a four-wave longitudinal study in a Chinese context. Front Psychiatry 2025; 16:1570652. [PMID: 40357504 PMCID: PMC12066473 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1570652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2025] [Accepted: 04/08/2025] [Indexed: 05/15/2025] Open
Abstract
Objective There has been a growing concern regarding the development of parental anxiety and child anxiety. However, the dynamic bidirectional relationship between parental anxiety and child anxiety remains unclear, particularly across different genders and developmental stages. This study investigated the bidirectional relationships between parental anxiety and child anxiety, and further explored the relationships across gender and age. Methods Data were collected across four waves from 2019 to 2022 in Sichuan Province, China, including 6,117 students (49.00% girls; 61.10% adolescents; M = 10.32 years, SD = 2.14). Parental anxiety was evaluated by the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and child anxiety was assessed using the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). A random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was constructed to distinguish between within- and between-person levels of parental anxiety and child anxiety. Results Results found that parental anxiety significantly predicted child anxiety across all time points, which supports the "parent effects" model. Meanwhile, child anxiety also influenced parental anxiety from Time 3 to Time 4, partially supporting the "reciprocal effects" model. Moreover, the impact of parental anxiety on girls' anxiety was significantly stronger than on boys, and parental anxiety had a more substantial influence on children than on adolescents. Conclusion These findings underscore the distinct roles of gender and developmental stages in the transmission of parental anxiety to children. The present findings provide theoretical and practical evidence for the development of parental anxiety and child anxiety in the Chinese context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T. L. Shek
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic
University, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zecchinato F, Ahmadzadeh YI, Kreppner JM, Lawrence PJ. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Paternal Anxiety and the Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes in Their Offspring. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2025; 64:172-197. [PMID: 38697345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent worldwide; however, the literature lacks a meta-analytic quantification of the risk posed by fathers' anxiety for offspring development. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide a comprehensive estimate of the magnitude of the association between paternal anxiety and emotional and behavioral problems of offspring. METHOD In February 2022, Web of Science, Ovid (Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO), Trip Database, and ProQuest were searched to identify all quantitative studies that measured anxiety in fathers and emotional and/or behavioral outcomes in offspring. No limits were set for offspring age, publication language, or publication year. Summary estimates were extracted from the primary studies. Meta-analytic random-effects 3-level models were used to calculate correlation coefficients. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The study protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO (CRD42022311501) and adhered to PRISMA reporting guidelines. RESULTS Of 11,746 records identified, 98 were included in the meta-analysis. Small but significant associations were found between paternal anxiety and offspring emotional and behavioral problems overall (r = 0.16, 95% CI [0.13, 0.19]) and behavioral (r = 0.19, 95% CI [0.13, 0.24]), emotional (r = 0.15, 95% CI [0.12, 0.18]), anxiety (r = 0.13, 95% CI [0.11, 0.16]), and depression (r = 0.13, 95% CI [0.03, 0.23]) problems. Some significant moderators were identified. CONCLUSION Paternal mental health is associated with offspring development, and the offspring of fathers with anxiety symptoms or disorders are at increased risk of negative emotional and behavioral outcomes, in line with the principles of multifinality and pleiotropy. The substantial heterogeneity among studies and the overrepresentation of White European American groups in this literature highlight the need for further research. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY In this meta-analysis of 98 studies and ∼55,000 unique participants, the authors examined the associations between fathers' anxiety and offspring mental health difficulties. The study found small but significant associations between paternal anxiety and offspring emotional and behavioral problems (Pearson r ranging between .13 and .19). Findings from the study highlight the importance of paternal mental health in offspring development, with paternal anxiety associated with a generalized offspring vulnerability to psychopathology. The results of the study are limited by the heterogeneity among studies and overrepresentation of White European American groups highlighting the need for further research. CLINICAL GUIDANCE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT: While citing references scientifically relevant for this work, we also actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our reference list.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Zecchinato
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
| | - Yasmin I Ahmadzadeh
- Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jana M Kreppner
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Peter J Lawrence
- Centre for Innovation in Mental Health, School of Psychology, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rousseau S, Katz D, Schussheim A, Frenkel TI. Intergenerational transmission of maternal prenatal anxiety to infant fearfulness: the mediating role of mother-infant bonding. Arch Womens Ment Health 2025; 28:157-171. [PMID: 38861169 PMCID: PMC11761977 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-024-01475-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study is the first to directly investigate the mechanistic role of maternal bonding toward her infant in the early intergenerational pathway of risk from maternal anxiety to infant fearfulness. METHODS Mothers (N = 216; Mage=32.78) reported on their anxiety and bonding at four time-points between pregnancy and ten-months postpartum. At four and ten-months postpartum, infant temperamental precursors of anxiety were assessed through maternal report and observation. RESULTS Cross-lagged longitudinal path modeling indicated a significant link between prenatal maternal anxiety and infant temperamental fearful withdrawal at 10-months postpartum (R2 = 0.117), which was fully explained by decreased maternal bonding at one-month postpartum and increased infant temperamental negative reactivity at 4-months postpartum. CONCLUSION Results support the need to foster maternal bonding in preventive perinatal care, particularly in the context of maternal anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Rousseau
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel
- School of Education, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Danielle Katz
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States
| | - Avital Schussheim
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel
| | - Tahl I Frenkel
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University, Herzliya, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Trayvick J, Adams EM, Nelson BD. Family study of the error-related negativity in adolescent and young adult females and their parents. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14669. [PMID: 39145376 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The error-related negativity (ERN) has been identified as a potential endophenotype of psychopathology. However, there is limited research investigating familial transmission of the ERN, particularly across developmental phases that are associated with increased risk for psychopathology. The present study included a sample of one hundred thirty-one adolescent and young adult females (Mage = 17.77, SD = 1.84) and their biological parents at a first assessment and 75 females (Mage = 20.48, SD = 1.75) and their biological parents at a second assessment. Participants and their parents completed a flanker task while electroencephalography was recorded to examine parent-daughter associations of the ERN, correct response negativity (CRN), and ΔERN (i.e., ERN-CRN) at two assessments that were separated by approximately 3 years (Myears = 2.84, SD = 0.60). The daughters also completed self-report measures of generalized anxiety and depression symptoms. Results indicated that the ΔERN, but not the ERN or CRN, was positively correlated between parents and their daughters at both assessments. Furthermore, the parent-daughter correlation strength did not differ between assessments. Finally, both daughter and parent ∆ERNs were associated with daughter generalized anxiety and depression symptoms. The present study suggests that, like psychiatric disorders, the ERN runs in families and is associated with both concurrent and familial psychopathology, supporting its conceptualization as an endophenotype of psychopathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jadyn Trayvick
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Elise M Adams
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Brady D Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhou AM, Gao MM, Ostlund B, Maylott SE, Molina NC, Bruce M, Raby KL, Conradt E, Crowell SE. From prenatal maternal anxiety and respiratory sinus arrhythmia to toddler internalizing problems: The role of infant negative affectivity. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-13. [PMID: 39301695 PMCID: PMC11922796 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424001305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal maternal anxiety is considered a risk factor for the development of child internalizing problems. However, little is known about potential mechanisms that account for these associations. The current study examined whether prenatal maternal anxiety was indirectly associated with toddler internalizing problems via prenatal maternal physiology and infant negative affectivity. We examined these associations in a longitudinal study of 162 expectant mothers from their third trimester until 18 months postpartum. Path analyses showed that higher prenatal anxiety was associated with higher infant negative affectivity at 7 months, which in turn was associated with higher toddler internalizing problems at 18 months. Prenatal anxiety was not indirectly associated with child outcomes via baseline or task-evoked respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in response to an infant cry while pregnant. However, pregnant women with greater decreases in task-evoked RSA had toddlers with greater internalizing problems, which was mediated by infant negative affectivity at 7 months. Findings suggest that prenatal anxiety and RSA reactivity to an infant cry may be independent risk factors for the development of infant negative affectivity, which in turn increases risk for toddler internalizing problems. These findings contribute to a growing literature on mechanisms that underlie intergenerational transmission of internalizing problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Zhou
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Mengyu Miranda Gao
- Department of Psychology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education, National Virtual Simulation Center for Experimental Psychology Education, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, UT, China
| | | | - Sarah E Maylott
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Madeleine Bruce
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - K Lee Raby
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Elisabeth Conradt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li S, Orr M, Plessen KJ, Pagsberg AK, Meier S. Terror catastrophizing: association with anxiety, depression, and transgenerational effects. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2374165. [PMID: 38993153 PMCID: PMC11249145 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2374165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background & Objectives: Terror catastrophizing, defined as an ongoing fear of future terrorist attacks, is associated with a higher incidence of anxiety disorders, among other psychological impacts. However, previous studies examining terror catastrophizing's relationship to other mental health disorders are limited. The current study sought to determine if patients diagnosed with anxiety and depression would experience increased terror catastrophizing. Additionally, this study aimed to investigate whether parental terror catastrophizing increases children's internalizing symptoms.Design & Methods: Individuals were randomly drawn from the Danish Civil Registration System and invited to complete a series of questionnaires to measure terror catastrophizing tendency, lifetime parental trauma, and children's internalizing symptoms. In total, n = 4,175 invitees completed the survey of which 933 reported on a child between 6 and 18 years. Responses were analyzed using a generalized linear regression model.Results: Participants diagnosed with anxiety alone or comorbid with depression were more likely to experience symptoms of terror catastrophizing than undiagnosed participants (β = 0.10, p < .001; β = 0.07, p = .012). Furthermore, the parental tendency to catastrophize terror was associated with higher internalizing symptoms in children (β = 0.09, p = .006), even after taking parental diagnoses, as well as lifetime and childhood trauma into account.Conclusion: The results can inform clinical practices to account for a patient's potential to exhibit increased terror catastrophizing tendencies or be more affected by traumatic events. Additionally, they can offer insights for designing novel preventative interventions for the whole family, due to the relation between parental tendencies for terror catastrophizing and the internalizing symptoms observed in children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuya Li
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Matt Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Kerstin Jessica Plessen
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Lausanne and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anne Katrine Pagsberg
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sandra Meier
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Center, Copenhagen University Hospital – Mental Health Services CPH, Copenhagen, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Simela C, Akanbi-Akinlolu T, Okundi M, Abdalla H, McAdams TA, Harris A, Augustine A, Le H, Abdinasir K, Ayorech Z, Ahmadzadeh YI. Intergenerational consequences of racism in the United Kingdom: a qualitative investigation into parents' exposure to racism and offspring mental health and well-being. Child Adolesc Ment Health 2024; 29:181-191. [PMID: 38523495 DOI: 10.1111/camh.12695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Experiences of racism are linked to negative physical and mental health outcomes among those exposed. According to quantitative research derived mainly from the United States, these negative outcomes can have cascading effects in families, when parents' experiences of racism indirectly impact offspring. New research is warranted for families in the United Kingdom, informed by a qualitative approach to canvassing community knowledge and perspectives, exploring how existing findings relate to lived experiences. METHOD We conducted four online focus groups with 14 parents of school-aged children and 14 adolescents who had experienced racism in the United Kingdom. Participants were asked what children know of parents' experiences of racism, and how these experiences can impact parent-child interactions, mental health and well-being. Focus group recordings were transcribed, data coded and analysed through iterative categorisation. RESULTS Analyses drew four themes from participants' insights. Together, themes illuminated the pervasive nature of racism experienced by some families in the United Kingdom. Parent and child experiences of racism were connected and co-occurring, with indirect effects impacting mental health and well-being in both generations. These experiences were linked to both positive and negative changes in parenting behaviour and parent-child relationships, which could be moderated by intersecting identities such as the parent's generational status for immigration to the United Kingdom. Social cohesion, safe spaces and education programmes were highlighted for future intervention. CONCLUSIONS Findings corroborate existing literature, while further emphasising a broader bidirectional picture, requiring a family system and intersectional approach to understanding the mental health impact of racism in families. Avenues for future research are discussed to support development of equitable intervention and support strategies to prevent racism and support those affected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Androulla Harris
- Centre for Mental Health, Registered Charity No. 1091156, London, UK
| | - Alex Augustine
- Centre for Mental Health, Registered Charity No. 1091156, London, UK
| | - Huong Le
- Centre for Mental Health, Registered Charity No. 1091156, London, UK
| | - Kadra Abdinasir
- Centre for Mental Health, Registered Charity No. 1091156, London, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Williams L, Oro V, Blackwell CK, Liu C, Miller EB, Ganiban J, Neiderhiser JM, DeGarmo DS, Shaw DS, Chen T, Natsuaki MN, Leve LD. Influence of early childhood parental hostility and socioeconomic stress on children's internalizing symptom trajectories from childhood to adolescence. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1325506. [PMID: 38694000 PMCID: PMC11062022 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1325506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Children and adolescents with elevated internalizing symptoms are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other psychopathology later in life. The present study examined the predictive links between two bioecological factors in early childhood-parental hostility and socioeconomic stress-and children's internalizing symptom class outcomes, while considering the effects of child sex assigned at birth on internalizing symptom development from childhood to adolescence. Materials and Methods The study used a sample of 1,534 children to test the predictive effects of socioeconomic stress at ages 18 and 27 months; hostile parenting measured at child ages 4-5; and sex assigned at birth on children's internalizing symptom latent class outcomes at child ages 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, and 16-19. Analyses also tested the mediating effect of parenting on the relationship between socioeconomic stress and children's symptom classes. Other covariates included parent depressive symptoms at child ages 4-5 and child race and ethnicity. Results Analyses identified three distinct heterogenous internalizing symptom classes characterized by relative symptom levels and progression: low (35%); moderate and increasing (41%); and higher and increasing (24%). As anticipated, higher levels of parental hostility in early childhood predicted membership in the higher and increasing symptom class, compared with the low symptom class (odds ratio (OR) = .61, 95% confidence interval (CI) [.48,.77]). Higher levels of early childhood socioeconomic stress were also associated with the likelihood of belonging to the higher-increasing symptom class compared to the low and moderate-increasing classes (OR = .46, 95% CI [.35,.60] and OR = .56, 95% CI [.44,.72], respectively). The total (c = .61) and direct (c' = .57) effects of socioeconomic stress on children's symptom class membership in the mediation analysis were significant (p <.001). Discussion Study findings suggest that intervening on modifiable bioecological stressors-including parenting behaviors and socioeconomic stressors-may provide important protective influences on children's internalizing symptom trajectories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lue Williams
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Veronica Oro
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Courtney K. Blackwell
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Elizabeth B. Miller
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jody Ganiban
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jenae M. Neiderhiser
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - David S. DeGarmo
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| | - Daniel S. Shaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Tong Chen
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Misaki N. Natsuaki
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Leslie D. Leve
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chen T, Liu C, Molenaar PCM, Leve LD, Ganiban JM, Natsuaki MN, Shaw DS, Neiderhiser JM. Examining timing effects in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety and depressive symptoms: A genetically informed study. Dev Psychol 2024; 60:747-763. [PMID: 38358664 PMCID: PMC11456280 DOI: 10.1037/dev0001694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The present study examined genetic, prenatal, and postnatal environmental pathways in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety and depressive symptoms from parents to early adolescents (when these symptoms start to increase), while considering timing effects of exposure to parent anxiety and depressive symptoms postnatally. The sample was from the Early Growth and Development Study, including 561 adopted children (57% male, 55% White, 13% Black/African American, 11% Hispanic/Latine, 20% multiracial, 1% other; 407 provided data in early adolescence) and their birth (BP) and adoptive parents (AP). Using a trait-state-occasion model with eight assessments from child ages 9 months to 11 years, we partitioned trait-like AP anxiety and depressive symptoms from time-specific fluctuations of AP anxiety and depressive symptoms. Offspring anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed at 11 years (while controlling for similar symptoms at 4.5 years). Results suggested that time-specific fluctuations of AP1 (mostly mothers) anxiety/depressive symptoms in infancy (9 months) were indirectly associated with offspring anxiety/depressive symptoms at 11 years via offspring anxiety/depressive symptoms at 4.5 years; time-specific fluctuations of AP1 anxiety/depressive symptoms at child age 11 years were concurrently associated with offspring anxiety/depressive symptoms at 11 years. AP2 (mostly fathers) anxiety/depressive symptoms were not associated with offspring symptoms. Genetic and prenatal influences measured by BP internalizing problems were not associated with offspring symptoms. Results suggested infancy and early adolescence as developmental periods when children are susceptible to influences of parent anxiety and depressive symptoms. Preventive interventions should consider time-specific fluctuations in parent anxiety and depressive symptoms during these developmental periods. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong Chen
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Peter C. M. Molenaar
- Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Leslie D. Leve
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Jody M. Ganiban
- Department of Psychology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Daniel S. Shaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jenae M. Neiderhiser
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wass S, Greenwood E, Esposito G, Smith C, Necef I, Phillips E. Annual Research Review: 'There, the dance is - at the still point of the turning world' - dynamic systems perspectives on coregulation and dysregulation during early development. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:481-507. [PMID: 38390803 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
During development we transition from coregulation (where regulatory processes are shared between child and caregiver) to self-regulation. Most early coregulatory interactions aim to manage fluctuations in the infant's arousal and alertness; but over time, coregulatory processes become progressively elaborated to encompass other functions such as sociocommunicative development, attention and executive control. The fundamental aim of coregulation is to help maintain an optimal 'critical state' between hypo- and hyperactivity. Here, we present a dynamic framework for understanding child-caregiver coregulatory interactions in the context of psychopathology. Early coregulatory processes involve both passive entrainment, through which a child's state entrains to the caregiver's, and active contingent responsiveness, through which the caregiver changes their behaviour in response to behaviours from the child. Similar principles, of interactive but asymmetric contingency, drive joint attention and the maintenance of epistemic states as well as arousal/alertness, emotion regulation and sociocommunicative development. We describe three ways in which active child-caregiver regulation can develop atypically, in conditions such as Autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression. The most well-known of these is insufficient contingent responsiveness, leading to reduced synchrony, which has been shown across a range of modalities in different disorders, and which is the target of most current interventions. We also present evidence that excessive contingent responsiveness and excessive synchrony can develop in some circumstances. And we show that positive feedback interactions can develop, which are contingent but mutually amplificatory child-caregiver interactions that drive the child further from their critical state. We discuss implications of these findings for future intervention research, and directions for future work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sam Wass
- UEL BabyDevLab, Department of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Emily Greenwood
- UEL BabyDevLab, Department of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Giovanni Esposito
- UEL BabyDevLab, Department of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Celia Smith
- Institute of Psychology Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King's College, London, UK
| | - Isil Necef
- UEL BabyDevLab, Department of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Emily Phillips
- UEL BabyDevLab, Department of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gu J, Li T, Dong H. Maternal autistic traits and anxiety in children with typical development in Chinese families: a moderated mediation model of mothers' negative emotional expressions and child gender. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1264173. [PMID: 38375119 PMCID: PMC10875098 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1264173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Prior studies have focused on the effects of maternal autistic traits on children with autism, but little attention has been paid to the effects of maternal autistic traits on typically developing children, while the mechanisms of the effects are not clear. Objective Given that, a moderated mediation model was conducted to examine the association between maternal autistic traits and typically developing children's anxiety and the underlying mechanisms. Methods and results Participants were 648 mother-child dyads in which these children had no autistic siblings. Mothers reported their autistic traits and negative emotional expressions in the family and children's anxiety. The results indicated that children's anxiety was predicted by maternal autistic traits. Mediating analysis revealed that mothers' negative emotional expressions partially mediated the association between their autistic traits and children's anxiety. The findings also indicated that child gender moderated the relationship between maternal emotional expressions and children's anxiety. Specifically, anxiety in girls was more strongly predicted by negative emotional expressions from their mothers than in boys. Conclusion These results have important theoretical and practical implications for reducing the adverse effect of maternal autistic traits on children's anxiety, especially for girls. The present study also reveals that maternal negative emotional expression is an important mechanism. Causal conclusions cannot be drawn based on cross-sectional research design, so it is necessary to conduct longitudinal studies in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Huiqin Dong
- Faculty of Education, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fynn G, Porter M, Pellicano E. 'Playing a guessing game': Recognising and responding to anxiety in children with intellectual disability. JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2023; 36:1150-1161. [PMID: 37381992 DOI: 10.1111/jar.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with intellectual disability are at greater risk of developing anxiety than the general population. Limited research has examined the challenges associated with recognising and responding to anxiety in children with intellectual disability, and its perceived impact. AIM This study aimed to explore anxiety in children with intellectual disability, from the child and parent perspective to better understand how parents and children recognise and respond to anxiety. METHOD AND PROCEDURES Six children with an intellectual disability (age range: 12-17, four boys) and their mothers participated in a semi-structured interview online. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and interpreted using thematic analysis. OUTCOME AND RESULTS Mothers elaborated on the difficulties with recognising signs of anxiety due to the impact of the child's primary diagnosis and the overlap of symptoms with co-occurring conditions. Mothers and children discussed the 'contagious' effect of anxiety within the household and how this influenced mothers' approaches to managing their child's anxiety. They reported that anxiety limited the meaningful activities in which children and families could engage. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings highlight the importance of supporting mothers to recognise their children's anxiety and to assist them with strategies on how best to respond and cope. These findings have implications for future research, and practitioners working in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Fynn
- Macquarie School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Melanie Porter
- Macquarie School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Pellicano
- Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Ferry RA, Beatty CC, Klein DN, Nelson BD. Family study of the startle reflex and event-related potentials in anticipation of predictable and unpredictable threat in adolescents and their parents. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14311. [PMID: 37076982 PMCID: PMC10524960 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
A heightened sensitivity to unpredictable threat has been identified as a potential transdiagnostic mechanism of psychopathology. The majority of supporting research has been conducted in adults, and it is unclear whether psychophysiological indicators of sensitivity to unpredictable threat are comparable in youth during developmental periods associated with increased risk for psychopathology. In addition, no studies have examined whether sensitivity to unpredictable threat is correlated between parents and their offspring. The present study examined defensive motivation (startle reflex) and attentional engagement (probe N100, P300) in anticipation of predictable and unpredictable threat in a sample of 15-year-old adolescents (N = 395) and a biological parent (N = 379). Adolescents, compared to their parents, demonstrated greater startle potentiation and probe N100 enhancement in anticipation of unpredictable threat. In addition, overall startle potentiation in anticipation of threat was correlated between the adolescents and their parents. Adolescence is a key developmental period characterized by heightened defensive motivation and attentional engagement in anticipation of both predictable and unpredictable threat. Sensitivity to threat might index is one mechanism of vulnerability that is at least partially shared between parents and their offspring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Ferry
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Clare C Beatty
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Daniel N Klein
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Brady D Nelson
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhou AM, Lytle MN, Youatt EA, Pérez-Edgar K, LoBue V, Buss KA. Examining transactional associations between maternal internalizing symptoms, infant negative emotionality, and infant respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Biol Psychol 2023; 182:108625. [PMID: 37423511 PMCID: PMC10528331 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The current study examined transactional associations between maternal internalizing symptoms, infant negative emotionality, and infant resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). We used data from the Longitudinal Attention and Temperament Study (N = 217) to examine the associations between maternal internalizing symptoms, infant negative emotionality, and infant resting RSA from 4-months to 18-months using a random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model. We found that mothers with higher average internalizing symptoms have infants with higher levels of resting RSA. However, there were no stable, between-individual differences in infant negative emotionality across time. Additionally, we found significant negative within-dyad cross-lagged associations from maternal internalizing symptoms to subsequent measures of infant negative emotionality, as well as a significant negative cross-lagged association from maternal internalizing symptoms to child resting RSA after 12-months of age. Lastly, we find evidence for infant-directed effects of negative emotionality and resting RSA to maternal internalizing symptoms. Results highlight the complex, bidirectional associations in maternal-infant dyads during the first two years of life, and the importance of considering the co-development of infant reactivity and regulatory processes in the context of maternal internalizing symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna M Zhou
- Department of Psychology, The University of Utah, United States.
| | - Marisa N Lytle
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Youatt
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, United States
| | - Koraly Pérez-Edgar
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, United States
| | - Vanessa LoBue
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University-Newark, United States
| | - Kristin A Buss
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kardaş B, Kardaş Ö, Demiral M, Özbek MN. Early puberty paradox: an investigation of anxiety levels of mothers and children, children's quality of life, and psychiatric diagnoses. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:3775-3783. [PMID: 37335399 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-023-05057-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Early puberty signs lead to an increase in anxiety levels of parents and children. The aim of this study was to investigate the quality of life and anxiety levels of girls and their mothers who were admitted to a pediatric endocrinology clinic with concerns about early puberty. Girls and their mothers who were admitted to endocrinology outpatient clinic with concerns about early puberty were compared to healthy control group. Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) parent form, Quality of Life for Children Scale (PedsQL) parent form, and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to the mothers. Children were evaluated with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (Kiddie-SADS Lifetime Version) (K-SADS-PL). The study sample consisted of 92 girls and 62 of them were administered to clinic with concerns about early puberty. There were 30 girls in early puberty group (group 1), 32 girls were in the normal development group (group 2), and 30 were in the healthy control group (group 3). The anxiety level of group 1 and group 2 was significantly higher, and their quality of life was significantly lower when compared to group 3 (p < 0.001). Mother's anxiety level was found significantly higher in group 2 (p < 0.001). It has shown that anxiety level and quality of life of children were associated with anxiety level of mothers and the current Tanner stage (r = 0.302, p < 0.005). Conclusion: Mothers and children who have concerns about early puberty are negatively affected when early puberty is a possibility. For this reason, educating parents will prevent negative impacts of this situation on children. At the same time, it will decrease health burden. What is Known? • Early adolescence is one of the most common reasons for admission to pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinics. It is known that increasing early adolescence anxiety in the society causes cost and time losses in the field of health. However, studies investigating the reasons for this result are limited in the literature. What's New? • The level of anxiety increased significantly in girls with suspected precocious puberty and their mothers, and their quality of life was affected. • For this reason, we would like to emphasize the importance of multidisciplinary approaches before psychiatric disorders occur in children with suspected precocious puberty and their parents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Burcu Kardaş
- School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Ömer Kardaş
- School of Medicine, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Meliha Demiral
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Balıkesir Atatürk City Hospital, Balıkesir, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Nuri Özbek
- Department of Pediatric Endokrinology, Mardin Artuklu University School of Medicine, Mardin, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Larrucea-Iruretagoyena M, Orue I. The Mediating Role of Mindful Parenting in the Relationship Between Parental Anxiety and Youth's Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties. J Youth Adolesc 2023; 52:1471-1480. [PMID: 36811698 PMCID: PMC10175410 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01752-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
One of the central questions in the theory of the intergenerational transmission of psychological symptoms is to identify whether parenting practices explain the transmission of psychological symptoms from parents to youth. This study examined the mediating mechanism of mindful parenting in the relationship between parental anxiety and youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties. In three waves separated by six months, longitudinal data were collected from 692 Spanish youth (54% girls) aged between 9 and 15 years (Mage = 12.84 years, SD = 1.22 years at Wave 1) and their parents. Path analysis showed that maternal mindful parenting mediated the relationship between maternal anxiety and the youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties. No mediating effect was found concerning fathers; however, marginal bidirectional relationships were obtained between paternal mindful parenting and youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties. This study addresses one of the main concerns about the theory of intergenerational transmission using a multi-informant and longitudinal study design, concluding that maternal anxiety predicts less mindful parenting practices and these in turn predict youth's emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Izaskun Orue
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Finsaas MC, Klein DN. Is adult separation anxiety associated with offspring risk for internalizing psychiatric problems? Psychol Med 2023; 53:3168-3177. [PMID: 35080196 PMCID: PMC10187056 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721005249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Awareness of adult separation anxiety (ASA) is growing, but there is a dearth of knowledge about how separation anxiety aggregates in families. We examined the intergenerational associations of separation anxiety and other forms of internalizing problems in an American community sample of 515 predominantly white children and their parents. METHODS Children's separation anxiety (CSA), depression, and other anxiety disorders were modeled as latent factors using diagnoses from interviews and symptom scores from questionnaires completed by mothers, fathers, and children when children were 9 years old and again 3 years later. Parents' separation anxiety was assessed via a questionnaire and parents' other anxiety, depressive, and substance use disorders were assessed with a diagnostic interview when children were nine. Relationships between parents' and children's psychopathology were modeled using s.e.m. RESULTS Mothers' and fathers' ASA were related to all three psychopathology factors in offspring, over and above other parental disorders, in concurrent and prospective analyses. CSA was also related to maternal depression concurrently and prospectively and to maternal anxiety prospectively. Of all paternal psychopathology variables, only ASA was significantly related to children's psychopathology in either model. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that parental separation anxiety is an important, but non-specific, risk factor for children's psychopathology. The pathway by which this risk is transmitted may be genetic or environmental, and the observed statistical associations likely also encompass child-to-parent effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan C. Finsaas
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA and
| | - Daniel N. Klein
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Parental anxiety and offspring development: A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2023; 327:64-78. [PMID: 36740142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.01.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parental anxiety has been associated with increased risk of emotional and behavioural problems for offspring, yet the differing impact of each parent is unclear. As emotional disorders continue to present a significant challenge to the health system and with the role of mothers and fathers changing over the past two decades, we sought to systematically review the available literature for an association between parental anxiety and offspring suboptimal outcomes. METHODS A systematic review was conducted using the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase; PsycINFO and Google Scholar. Reference lists of the included papers were also searched. Data was analysed and grouped based on offspring age. RESULTS Eighteen studies were included in this review. Results suggest that both parents' mental health can impact negatively on the functioning of offspring, during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. This association is weak in infancy, with equivocal results, however the association in childhood appears robust for both mothers and fathers. In adolescence, the findings suggest that maternal anxiety may be more influential than paternal anxiety. LIMITATIONS As the methodology of the included studies was heterogenous, and the timing of assessment varied across the papers, drawing concrete conclusions from the existing research is somewhat impaired. CONCLUSIONS Both mothers' and fathers' anxiety have the propensity to negatively impact on their child's development. Implementing preventative interventions, which include both parents, as well as systemic interventions, which include the whole family, are essential in stemming the intergenerational transmission of mental health problems within families.
Collapse
|
19
|
McAdams TA, Cheesman R, Ahmadzadeh YI. Annual Research Review: Towards a deeper understanding of nature and nurture: combining family-based quasi-experimental methods with genomic data. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2023; 64:693-707. [PMID: 36379220 PMCID: PMC10952916 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Distinguishing between the effects of nature and nurture constitutes a major research goal for those interested in understanding human development. It is known, for example, that many parent traits predict mental health outcomes in children, but the causal processes underlying such associations are often unclear. Family-based quasi-experimental designs such as sibling comparison, adoption and extended family studies have been used for decades to distinguish the genetic transmission of risk from the environmental effects family members potentially have on one another. Recently, these designs have been combined with genomic data, and this combination is fuelling a range of exciting methodological advances. In this review we explore these advances - highlighting the ways in which they have been applied to date and considering what they are likely to teach us in the coming years about the aetiology and intergenerational transmission of psychopathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom A. McAdams
- Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- PROMENTA Research Centre, Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Rosa Cheesman
- Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
- PROMENTA Research Centre, Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Yasmin I. Ahmadzadeh
- Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and NeuroscienceKing's College LondonLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Ayorech Z, Cheesman R, Eilertsen EM, Bjørndal LD, Røysamb E, McAdams TA, Havdahl A, Ystrom E. Maternal depression and the polygenic p factor: A family perspective on direct and indirect effects. J Affect Disord 2023; 332:159-167. [PMID: 36963516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Within-family studies typically assess indirect genetic effects of parents on children, however social support theory points to a critical role of partners and children on women's depression. To address this research gap and account for the high heterogeneity of depression, we calculated a general psychiatric factor using eleven major psychiatric polygenic scores (polygenic p), in up to 25,000 parent-offspring trios from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Multilevel modeling of trio polygenic p was used to distinguish direct and indirect genetic effects on mothers depression during pregnancy (gestational age 17 and 30 weeks), infancy (6 months, 18 months) and early childhood (3 years, 5 years, and 8 years). We found mothers polygenic p predicts their depression symptoms (b = 0.092; 95 % CI [0.087,0.098]), outperforming prediction using a single major depressive disorder polygenic score (b = 0.070, 95 % CI [0.066,0.075]). Jointly modeling trio polygenic p revealed indirect genetic effects of fathers (b = 0.022, 95 % CI [0.014,0.030]) and children (b = 0.021, 95 % CI [0.010,0.037]) on mothers' depression. Our results support the generalizability of polygenic effects across mental health and highlight the role of close family members on women's depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziada Ayorech
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.
| | - Rosa Cheesman
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Espen M Eilertsen
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ludvig Daae Bjørndal
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Espen Røysamb
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Tom A McAdams
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway; Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Nic Waals Institute, Spångbergveien 25, 0853 Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Cheesman R, Ayorech Z, Eilertsen EM, Ystrom E. Why we need families in genomic research on developmental psychopathology. JCPP ADVANCES 2023; 3:e12138. [PMID: 37431320 PMCID: PMC10241449 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Fundamental questions about the roles of genes, environments, and their interplay in developmental psychopathology have traditionally been the domain of twin and family studies. More recently, the rapidly growing availability of large genomic datasets, composed of unrelated individuals, has generated novel insights. However, there are major stumbling blocks. Only a small fraction of the total genetic influence on childhood psychopathology estimated from family data is captured with measured DNA. Moreover, genetic influence identified using DNA is often confounded with indirect genetic effects of relatives, population stratification and assortative mating. Methods The goal of this paper is to review how combining DNA-based genomic research with family-based quantitative genetics helps to address key issues in genomics and push knowledge further. Results We focus on three approaches to obtaining more accurate and novel genomic findings on the developmental aetiology of psychopathology: (a) using knowledge from twin and family studies, (b) triangulating with twin and family studies, and (c) integrating data and methods with twin and family studies. Conclusion We support the movement towards family-based genomic research, and show that developmental psychologists are particularly well-placed to contribute hypotheses, analysis tools, and data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Cheesman
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Ziada Ayorech
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Espen M. Eilertsen
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Centre for Fertility and HealthNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- PROMENTA Research CenterDepartment of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Ding Q, Bi D, Zhou Y, Bai X, Li X. Genetic and environmental sources of familial resemblance in anxiety: a nuclear twin family design. Psychol Med 2023; 53:103-111. [PMID: 33883046 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721001197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A dominant feature of anxiety disorders is familial aggregation. However, the underlying mechanisms of between- and within-generational anxiety resemblance remain poorly understood. By disentangling the genetic v. environmental sources of familial resemblance in anxiety, we can help prevent within-family transmission of anxiety disorders. Therefore, data from both parents and twins are needed to obtain unbiased and detailed estimations of genetic and environmental sources of similarity between family members. METHODS We examined data from 991 families with same-sex twins. Trait anxiety in twins was assessed via self-report and parent report, while parental trait anxiety was assessed via self-report. We established a nuclear twin family model and estimated genetic and environmental variances using two survey waves. RESULTS The results suggested that additive genetic (A), dominant genetic (D), and non-shared environmental (E) influences significantly contributed to trait anxiety, whereas familial environmental influences (F) and passive gene-environment correlations (rGE) did not. Sibling environmental influences (S) were only found in self-report data, and increased when genetic influences decreased from Wave 1 to Wave 2. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the important role of broad heritability in intrafamilial trait anxiety similarity. Parent-child resemblance occurred primarily due to shared genetic makeup rather than direct environmental transmission. Sibling-specific environments, as the only source of shared environments, need further investigation. These findings have both theoretical and practical significance for anxiety disorders. Future research can expand our understanding by examining the gene-environment interplay and sex differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Ding
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dandan Bi
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yueyue Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Bai
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinying Li
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Agnew‐Blais JC, Wertz J, Arseneault L, Belsky DW, Danese A, Pingault J, Polanczyk GV, Sugden K, Williams B, Moffitt TE. Mother's and children's ADHD genetic risk, household chaos and children's ADHD symptoms: A gene-environment correlation study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2022; 63:1153-1163. [PMID: 35833717 PMCID: PMC9796059 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chaotic home environments may contribute to children's attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. However, ADHD genetic risk may also influence household chaos. This study investigated whether children in chaotic households had more ADHD symptoms, if mothers and children with higher ADHD genetic risk lived in more chaotic households, and the joint association of genetic risk and household chaos on the longitudinal course of ADHD symptoms across childhood. METHODS Participants were mothers and children from the Environmental Risk (E-Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study, a UK population-representative birth cohort of 2,232 twins. Children's ADHD symptoms were assessed at ages 5, 7, 10 and 12 years. Household chaos was rated by research workers at ages 7, 10 and 12, and by mother's and twin's self-report at age 12. Genome-wide ADHD polygenic risk scores (PRS) were calculated for mothers (n = 880) and twins (n = 1,999); of these, n = 871 mothers and n = 1,925 children had information on children's ADHD and household chaos. RESULTS Children in more chaotic households had higher ADHD symptoms. Mothers and children with higher ADHD PRS lived in more chaotic households. Children's ADHD PRS was associated with household chaos over and above mother's PRS, suggesting evocative gene-environment correlation. Children in more chaotic households had higher baseline ADHD symptoms and a slower rate of decline in symptoms. However, sensitivity analyses estimated that gene-environment correlation accounted for a large proportion of the association of household chaos on ADHD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Children's ADHD genetic risk was independently associated with higher levels of household chaos, emphasising the active role of children in shaping their home environment. Our findings suggest that household chaos partly reflects children's genetic risk for ADHD, calling into question whether household chaos directly influences children's core ADHD symptoms. Our findings highlight the importance of considering parent and child genetic risk in relation to apparent environmental exposures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C. Agnew‐Blais
- Department of Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural SciencesQueen Mary University LondonLondonUK
| | - Jasmin Wertz
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Louise Arseneault
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology, and Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Daniel W. Belsky
- Department of Epidemiology and Butler Columbia Aging CenterColumbia University Mailman School of Public HealthNew YorkNYUSA
- Promenta CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Andrea Danese
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology, and Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
- National and Specialist Child Traumatic Stress and Anxiety ClinicSouth London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Jean‐Baptiste Pingault
- Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language SciencesUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Karen Sugden
- Promenta CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Benjamin Williams
- Promenta CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| | - Terrie E. Moffitt
- Social, Genetic, and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of PsychiatryPsychology, and Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUK
- Promenta CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceDuke UniversityDurhamNCUSA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Busch HEC, Viana AG, Raines EM, Trent ES, Zvolensky MJ, Storch EA. Fearful Temperament, Catastrophizing, and Internalizing Symptoms in Clinically Anxious Youth. J Cogn Psychother 2022; 37:JCP-2021-0022.R1. [PMID: 35470150 DOI: 10.1891/jcp-2021-0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A fearful temperament in childhood is associated with child internalizing symptoms. However, the cognitive mechanisms explaining this association are poorly understood. We examined the effects of child fearful temperament on child internalizing symptoms and the underlying role of catastrophizing cognitions among clinically anxious youth. Children (N = 105; M age = 10.09 years, SD = 1.22; 56.7% female; 62% ethnic minority) completed a diagnostic interview; self-report measures of temperament, catastrophizing, and internalizing symptoms; and behaviorally-indexed measures of catastrophizing and anxiety. Indirect effects were found for child fearful temperament on child self-reported internalizing symptoms by way of self-reported (but not behaviorally-indexed) catastrophizing cognitions. Models predicting behaviorally-indexed child anxiety were not significant. Our findings suggest that targeting fearful temperament during childhood before catastrophizing cognitions develop may have clinical utility. Likewise, among children temperamentally at-risk, addressing catastrophic cognitions may prevent later internalizing psychopathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andres G Viana
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204
- Texas Institute of Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204
| | | | - Erika S Trent
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204
| | - Michael J Zvolensky
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Eric A Storch
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Marzilli E, Cerniglia L, Tambelli R, Cimino S. Children’s ADHD and Dysregulation Problems, DAT1 Genotype and Methylation, and their Interplay with Family Environment. CHILD & YOUTH CARE FORUM 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10566-022-09687-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
International literature has underlined the complex interplay between genetic and environmental variables in shaping children’s emotional-behavioral functioning.
Objective
This study aimed to explore the dynamic relationship between children’s Dopamine Transporter (DAT1) genotype and methylation, and maternal and paternal affective environment, on children’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) problems and dysregulation problems.
Method
In a community sample of 76 families with school-aged children, we assessed children’s DAT1 genotype and methylation, their own ADHD problems and dysregulation profile (CBCL 6–18 DP), and maternal and paternal psychopathological risk, parenting stress, and marital adjustment. Hierarchical regressions were carried out to verify the possible moderation of children’s genotype on the relationship between children’s methylation and psychopathological risk, parental environment and children’s methylation, and parental environment and children’s psychopathological risk.
Results
The levels of methylation at M1 CpG significantly predicted ADHD problems among children with 10/10 genotype, whereas high levels of methylation at M6 CpG predicted low ADHD problems for children with 9/x genotype. High levels of methylation at M3 CpG were associated with high scores of CBCL DP. DAT1 genotype moderated the relationship between maternal and paternal variables with children’s methylation and psychopathological risk. The scores of maternal and paternal Dyadic Adjustment Scale showed indirect effects on children’s methylation and psychopathological risk in relation to those exerted by risk factors.
Conclusion
Our study has supported the emerging evidence on the complex nature of children’s emotional-behavioral functioning and the associated risk and protective factors, with important implications for the planning of preventive programs.
Collapse
|
26
|
Reiss D, Ganiban JM, Leve LD, Neiderhiser JM, Shaw DS, Natsuaki MN. Parenting in the Context of the Child: Genetic and Social Processes. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 2022; 87:7-188. [PMID: 37070594 PMCID: PMC10329459 DOI: 10.1111/mono.12460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
The focus on the role of parenting in child development has a long-standing history. When measures of parenting precede changes in child development, researchers typically infer a causal role of parenting practices and attitudes on child development. However, this research is usually conducted with parents raising their own biological offspring. Such research designs cannot account for the effects of genes that are common to parents and children, nor for genetically influenced traits in children that influence how they are parented and how parenting affects them. The aim of this monograph is to provide a clearer view of parenting by synthesizing findings from the Early Growth and Development Study (EGDS). EGDS is a longitudinal study of adopted children, their birth parents, and their rearing parents studied across infancy and childhood. Families (N = 561) were recruited in the United States through adoption agencies between 2000 and 2010. Data collection began when adoptees were 9 months old (males = 57.2%; White 54.5%, Black 13.2%, Hispanic/Latinx 13.4%, Multiracial 17.8%, other 1.1%). The median child age at adoption placement was 2 days (M = 5.58, SD = 11.32). Adoptive parents were predominantly in their 30s, White, and coming from upper-middle- or upper-class backgrounds with high educational attainment (a mode at 4-year college or graduate degree). Most adoptive parents were heterosexual couples, and were married at the beginning of the project. The birth parent sample was more racially and ethnically diverse, but the majority (70%) were White. At the beginning of the study, most birth mothers and fathers were in their 20s, with a mode of educational attainment at high school degree, and few of them were married. We have been following these family members over time, assessing their genetic influences, prenatal environment, rearing environment, and child development. Controlling for effects of genes common to parents and children, we confirmed some previously reported associations between parenting, parent psychopathology, and marital adjustment in relation to child problematic and prosocial behavior. We also observed effects of children's heritable characteristics, characteristics thought to be transmitted from parent to child by genetic means, on their parents and how those effects contributed to subsequent child development. For example, we found that genetically influenced child impulsivity and social withdrawal both elicited harsh parenting, whereas a genetically influenced sunny disposition elicited parental warmth. We found numerous instances of children's genetically influenced characteristics that enhanced positive parental influences on child development or that protected them from harsh parenting. Integrating our findings, we propose a new, genetically informed process model of parenting. We posit that parents implicitly or explicitly detect genetically influenced liabilities and assets in their children. We also suggest future research into factors such as marital adjustment, that favor parents responding with appropriate protection or enhancement. Our findings illustrate a productive use of genetic information in prevention research: helping parents respond effectively to a profile of child strengths and challenges rather than using genetic information simply to identify some children unresponsive to current preventive interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Reiss
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ask H, Eilertsen EM, Gjerde LC, Hannigan LJ, Gustavson K, Havdahl A, Cheesman R, McAdams TA, Hettema JM, Reichborn‐Kjennerud T, Torvik FA, Ystrom E. Intergenerational transmission of parental neuroticism to emotional problems in 8-year-old children: Genetic and environmental influences. JCPP ADVANCES 2021; 1:e12054. [PMID: 37431400 PMCID: PMC10242898 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 09/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Children of parents with high levels of neuroticism tend to have high neuroticism themselves as well as increased risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is not yet clear how much of this link is attributable to a potential effect of parent on child (e.g., via a socializing effect) versus to shared genetic risk. We aimed to determine whether there is an intergenerational association after accounting for genetic transmission and assortative mating. Methods We used data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study including 11,088 sibling pairs in the parental generation, their partners (N = 22,176) and their offspring (N = 26,091). Exposures were maternal and paternal neuroticism (self-reported), and the outcomes were neuroticism, symptoms of depression, and symptoms of anxiety in 8-year-old children (mother-reported). Results After accounting for assortative mating in parents (phenotypic r = 0.26) and genetic transmission (explaining 0%-18% of the mother-offspring correlations), potential maternal effects explained 80% (95% CI = 47-95) of the association with offspring neuroticism (mother-child r = 0.31), 78% (95% CI = 66-89) of the association with offspring depressive symptoms (r = 0.31), and 98% (95% CI = 45-112) of the association with offspring anxiety symptoms (r = 0.16). Intergenerational transmission of genetic variants associated with paternal neuroticism accounted for ∼40% (CI = 22%-58%) of the father-offspring correlations with neuroticism and symptoms of depression (r = 0.13 and 0.13, respectively) but none with offspring symptoms of anxiety (r = 0.05). The remaining father-offspring correlations were explained by maternal influences through assortative mating. Conclusions These results are consistent with direct effects between maternal and offspring neuroticism and between maternal neuroticism and offspring symptoms of anxiety and depression. Further understanding of these intergenerational processes will require an adequate model of how these constructs (neuroticism, anxiety and depression) relate to each other within generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helga Ask
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
| | | | - Line C. Gjerde
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
- PROMENTA Research CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Kristin Gustavson
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
- PROMENTA Research CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
- PROMENTA Research CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Nic Waals InstituteLovisenberg Diaconal HospitalOsloNorway
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology UnitUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - Rosa Cheesman
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Tom A. McAdams
- PROMENTA Research CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry CentreKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Ted Reichborn‐Kjennerud
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
- Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Fartein A. Torvik
- Centre for Fertility and HealthNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental DisordersNorwegian Institute of Public HealthOsloNorway
- PROMENTA Research CenterUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
- School of PharmacyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Buss KA, Zhou AM, Trainer A. Bidirectional effects of toddler temperament and maternal overprotection on maternal and child anxiety symptoms across preschool. Depress Anxiety 2021; 38:1201-1210. [PMID: 34255905 PMCID: PMC8664961 DOI: 10.1002/da.23199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Existing research highlights interactions among child temperament, parents' own anxiety symptoms, and parenting in predicting increased risk for anxiety symptom development. Theoretical models of child-elicited effects on parents have proposed that parents' behaviors are likely not independent of children's temperament; fearful children likely elicit more protective responses from parents and these parenting behaviors reinforces child anxiety and parents' own anxiety. METHOD The current study tests this model and examines whether there are bidirectional influences between early fearful temperament (i.e., dysregulated fear [DF]), maternal overprotection, and subsequent trajectories of maternal and child anxiety symptoms across early childhood. A total of 166 children and mothers participated in a multimethod, longitudinal study of temperament risk from 2 to 6 years. RESULTS Results largely support our hypotheses, replicating and extending the prior literature. DF was associated with more maternal overprotective behavior, subsequent child anxiety symptoms, and maternal anxiety symptoms. Moreover, there were indirect (mediated) associations through maternal overprotective behavior and both child and mother anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION Results support the hypothesis that intergenerational transmission of anxiety was meditated through maternal behaviors and that the child-driven temperament effects are central to trajectories of child and maternal anxiety trajectories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A. Buss
- Department of Psychology The Pennsylvania State University State College Pennsylvania USA
| | - Anna M. Zhou
- Department of Psychology The Pennsylvania State University State College Pennsylvania USA
| | - Austen Trainer
- Department of Psychology The Pennsylvania State University State College Pennsylvania USA
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Hastings PD, Ugarte E, Mashash M, Marceau K, Natsuaki MN, Shirtcliff EA, Zahn-Waxler C, Klimes-Dougan B. The codevelopment of adolescents' and parents' anxiety and depression: Moderating influences of youth gender and psychophysiology. Depress Anxiety 2021; 38:1234-1244. [PMID: 34110070 DOI: 10.1002/da.23183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
METHODS In a 2-year longitudinal study of 220 families, we examined how youth gender and adrenocortical and parasympathetic activity moderated reciprocal, bidirectional relations between parent and youth anxiety and depression problems. RESULTS Maternal anxiety predicted subsequent youth anxiety and depression. Maternal depression predicted youth anxiety and, for daughters and youth with low adrenocortical reactivity, youth depression. Youth depression predicted maternal depression only for youth with high adrenocortical reactivity. There were no associations between paternal and youth psychopathology. DISCUSSION Examining youth gender and psychophysiological characteristics that shape the nature of bidirectional influences may inform efforts to identify families at heightened risk for intergenerational transmission of psychopathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Hastings
- Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Elisa Ugarte
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Meital Mashash
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kristine Marceau
- Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Misaki N Natsuaki
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | | | - Carolyn Zahn-Waxler
- Department of Psychology and Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Yirmiya K, Motsan S, Kanat-Maymon Y, Feldman R. From mothers to children and back: Bidirectional processes in the cross-generational transmission of anxiety from early childhood to early adolescence. Depress Anxiety 2021; 38:1298-1312. [PMID: 34254404 DOI: 10.1002/da.23196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal psychopathology and caregiving behavior are linked with child anxiety and these associations may be particularly salient when families face mass trauma together and members influence each other's symptomatology and resilience. Despite the well-known mother-to-child effects, less research addressed the longitudinal bidirectional effects of maternal and child's anxiety symptoms on each other. METHODS Mothers and children exposed to chronic war-related trauma from Sderot, Israel, and comparison group were followed at three time-points; Early childhood (T1:N = 232, MAge = 2.76 years), late childhood (T3:N = 176, MAge = 9.3 years), and early adolescence (T4:N = 110, MAge = 11.66 years). At each time-point maternal and child's anxiety symptoms were evaluated via questionnaires and maternal sensitivity was coded from videotaped observations of parent-child interactions. Bidirectional associations were examined using traditional cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and CLPM with random intercepts (RI-CLPM). RESULTS Trauma-exposed mothers and children exhibited more anxiety symptoms and lower maternal sensitivity. Cross-lagged panel models revealed cross-time bidirectional associations between maternal anxiety and child anxiety from early to late childhood. Child anxiety at each time-point predicted maternal anxiety and maternal sensitivity at the next stage; however, maternal sensitivity did not show longitudinal associations with child anxiety, highlighting children's role in shaping caregiving. CONCLUSIONS Findings demonstrate bidirectional cross-generational influences of mother and child on each other's anxiety in contexts of trauma and pinpoint early childhood as a sensitive period for such mutual influences. Children's increased anxiety following trauma appears to be further exacerbated via its impact on increasing maternal anxiety and compromising sensitive caregiving, underscoring the potential benefits of parental and mother-child interventions for trauma-exposed populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Yirmiya
- Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel.,Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Shai Motsan
- Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel.,Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Santacroce SJ, Killela MK, Kamkhoad D, Leckey JA, Hubbard G. He knew more than we wanted him to know: Parent perceptions about their children's sense of pediatric cancer-related financial problems. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2021; 68:e29080. [PMID: 33894050 PMCID: PMC10440629 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment for pediatric cancer generates costs that place sizeable demands on family finances relative to household income. Little is known about whether children sense that their cancer has created financial problems for the family. The study purpose was to describe parents' perceptions about whether their child sensed that pediatric cancer created financial problems for their family. PROCEDURE Family Communications Theory informed our study. We used descriptive statistics and content analysis to examine parents' (n = 417) responses to questions about the child's sense of pediatric cancer-related financial problems from a larger survey study. RESULTS Approximately 56.2% of parents indicated that their child had no sense of the pediatric cancer-related financial problems and 44.1% indicated their child had some. Proportions of children perceived to sense these financial problems steadily increased with age grouping, while proportions perceived to have none declined. With content analysis, we identified cognitive capacity as the key child factor influencing children's sense of these problems. Influential context factors included social norms, observed changes in family routines and spending patterns, and overheard conversations between adults. Child psychological outcomes included guilt, anxiety about money, and feelings of being a burden. CONCLUSION Pediatric oncology professionals and staff should be mindful of parent preferences about burdening children with sensitive financial information, and modify their behaviors and processes accordingly. They can also provide anticipatory guidance and psycho-education about psychological responses related to the effects of pediatric cancer on family finances and the role of cognitive development in the evolution of children's awareness of those effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Judge Santacroce
- School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Mary K. Killela
- School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | - Jill A. Leckey
- School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Grace Hubbard
- School of Nursing, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ahmadzadeh YI, Schoeler T, Han M, Pingault JB, Creswell C, McAdams TA. Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Genetically Informed Research: Associations Between Parent Anxiety and Offspring Internalizing Problems. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 60:823-840. [PMID: 33675965 PMCID: PMC8259118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parent anxiety is associated with offspring internalizing problems (emotional problems related to anxiety and depression). This may reflect causal processes, whereby exposure to parent anxiety directly influences offspring internalizing (and/or vice versa). However, parent-offspring associations could also be attributable to their genetic relatedness. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate whether exposure to parent anxiety is associated with offspring internalizing after controlling for genetic relatedness. METHOD A literature search across 5 databases identified 429 unique records. Publications were retained if they used a quasi-experimental design in a general population sample to control for participant relatedness in associations between parent anxiety and offspring internalizing outcomes. Publications were excluded if they involved an experimental exposure or intervention. Studies of prenatal and postnatal anxiety exposure were meta-analyzed separately. Pearson's correlation coefficient estimates (r) were pooled using multilevel random-effects models. RESULTS Eight publications were retained. Data were drawn from 4 population cohorts, each unique to a quasi-experimental design: adoption, sibling-comparison, children-of-twins or in vitro fertilization. Cohorts were located in northern Europe or America. Families were predominantly of European ancestry. Three publications (Nfamilies >11,700; offspring age range, 0.5-10 years) showed no association between prenatal anxiety exposure and offspring internalizing outcomes after accounting for participant relatedness (r = .04; 95% CI: -.07, .14). Six publications (Nfamilies >12,700; offspring age range, 0.75-22 years) showed a small but significant association between concurrent symptoms in parents and offspring after accounting for participant relatedness (r = .13; 95% CI: .04, .21). CONCLUSION Initial literature, derived from homogeneous populations, suggests that prenatal anxiety exposure does not cause offspring internalizing outcomes. However, postnatal anxiety exposure may be causally associated with concurrent offspring internalizing via nongenetic pathways. Longitudinal stability, child-to-parent effects, and the role of moderators and methodological biases require attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tom A McAdams
- King's College London, United Kingdom; University of Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Jami ES, Hammerschlag AR, Bartels M, Middeldorp CM. Parental characteristics and offspring mental health and related outcomes: a systematic review of genetically informative literature. Transl Psychiatry 2021; 11:197. [PMID: 33795643 PMCID: PMC8016911 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-021-01300-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Various parental characteristics, including psychiatric disorders and parenting behaviours, are associated with offspring mental health and related outcomes in observational studies. The application of genetically informative designs is crucial to disentangle the role of genetic and environmental factors (as well as gene-environment correlation) underlying these observations, as parents provide not only the rearing environment but also transmit 50% of their genes to their offspring. This article first provides an overview of behavioural genetics, matched-pair, and molecular genetics designs that can be applied to investigate parent-offspring associations, whilst modelling or accounting for genetic effects. We then present a systematic literature review of genetically informative studies investigating associations between parental characteristics and offspring mental health and related outcomes, published since 2014. The reviewed studies provide reliable evidence of genetic transmission of depression, criminal behaviour, educational attainment, and substance use. These results highlight that studies that do not use genetically informative designs are likely to misinterpret the mechanisms underlying these parent-offspring associations. After accounting for genetic effects, several parental characteristics, including parental psychiatric traits and parenting behaviours, were associated with offspring internalising problems, externalising problems, educational attainment, substance use, and personality through environmental pathways. Overall, genetically informative designs to study intergenerational transmission prove valuable for the understanding of individual differences in offspring mental health and related outcomes, and mechanisms of transmission within families.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eshim S Jami
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Anke R Hammerschlag
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Meike Bartels
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christel M Middeldorp
- Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Anxiety in Children with Cystic Fibrosis and Their Parents: A Systematic Review. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 2021; 24:370-390. [DOI: 10.1007/s10567-021-00345-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
35
|
Liu L, Li S, Zheng Y, Wang M. Intergenerational transmission of anxiety in Chinese migrant families: The mediating role of parents' perceptions of coparenting. J Affect Disord 2021; 280:287-294. [PMID: 33221714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.10.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that anxiety transmits across generations. However, little is known about the intergenerational transmission of anxiety in Chinese migrant families and the potential mediators of the intergenerational transmission. Therefore, this study investigated the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from both fathers and mothers to children in Chinese migrant families and the mediating role of both mothers' and fathers' perceptions of coparenting. METHODS Participants were 477 elementary school-age children and both their parents in Chinese migrant families. Mothers and fathers self-reported their anxiety and perceptions of coparenting. Children's anxiety was measured based on maternal report and paternal report. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the mediating role of both mothers' and fathers' perceptions of coparenting in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety. RESULTS Anxiety was transmitted across generations from both fathers and mothers to migrant children, and fathers' (but not mothers') perceptions of coparenting mediated the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from both fathers and mothers to migrant children. LIMITATIONS Causal conclusions cannot be drawn based on cross-sectional research design. CONCLUSIONS Coparenting seemed to play an important role in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety. Interventions preventing the intergenerational transmission of anxiety should designate relevant effort enhancing fathers' perceptions of coparenting by changing fathers' negative perceptions and evaluations of the coparenting relationship and increasing mothers' high-quality coparenting behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Sen Li
- Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Jinan Tianqiao Luoxin Primary School, Jinan, China
| | - Meifang Wang
- Research Center for Child Development, College of Elementary Education, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Akgül G, Atalan Ergin D. Adolescents' and parents' anxiety during COVID-19: is there a role of cyberchondriasis and emotion regulation through the internet? CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 40:4750-4759. [PMID: 33424198 PMCID: PMC7778560 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-01229-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 pandemic period presents a unique context for the investigation of anxiety symptoms among adolescents and their parents. This study investigated adolescents' and their parents' anxiety symptoms, the effects of parental cyberchondriasis and adolescents' emotion regulation on anxiety symptoms. The sample consisted of 155 adolescents (x̅ = 14.63, SD = 2.04) and one of their parents (N = 155). The results showed that after controlling for adolescents' gender and emotion regulation, parental cyberchondriasis and anxiety accounted for an important variance in adolescents' anxiety. Especially higher parental anxiety and compulsion were associated with higher anxiety, whereas higher distress was associated with lower anxiety. Besides, two dimensions of cyberchondriasis, compulsion, and distress, together with adolescent anxiety, predicted parental anxiety during COVID-19. While compulsion was negatively associated with anxiety, distress, and adolescent anxiety were positively associated with it. The dimensions of cyberchondriasis affected anxiety differently among adolescents and their parents. The results were discussed in terms of the implications for intervention from the ecological viewpoint.
Collapse
|
37
|
Ding X, Wang J, Li N, Su W, Wang H, Song Q, Guo X, Liang M, Qin Q, Sun L, Chen M, Sun Y. Individual, Prenatal, Perinatal, and Family Factors for Anxiety Symptoms Among Preschool Children. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:778291. [PMID: 34987428 PMCID: PMC8721098 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.778291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Anxiety is one of the most common psychological disorders among children. Few studies have investigated the prevalence and comprehensive factors for anxiety among preschool children in China. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and explore influential factors at multiple levels including individual, prenatal and perinatal, and family factors, associated with anxiety symptoms among preschool children. The multisite cross-sectional study was conducted in Anhui Province and included 3,636 preschool children aged 3-6 years. Anxiety symptoms of children were assessed using the Chinese version of the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale. Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore associations between factors at multiple levels and significant anxiety symptoms, and the model was validated internally using 10-fold cross-validation. Among the participants, 9.1% of children had significant anxiety symptoms. Girls reported more significant anxiety symptoms. Children's poor dietary habits, sleep disturbances, autistic tendencies, and left-behind experience; maternal poor prenatal emotional symptoms; and more caregivers' anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with anxiety symptoms among children. The result of 10-fold cross-validation indicated that the mean area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.78, 70.45%, 78.18%, and 71.15%, respectively. These factors were slightly different among different subtypes of anxiety symptoms. The results of this study suggested that anxiety symptoms in preschool children were prevalent, particularly in girls. Understanding early-life risk factors for anxiety is crucial, and efficient prevention and intervention strategies should be implemented in early childhood even pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiu Ding
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wanying Su
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qiuxia Song
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xianwei Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Mingming Liang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qirong Qin
- Ma'anshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ma'anshan, China
| | - Liang Sun
- Fuyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Fuyang, China
| | - Mingchun Chen
- Changfeng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changfeng, China
| | - Yehuan Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Cheesman R, Eilertsen EM, Ahmadzadeh YI, Gjerde LC, Hannigan LJ, Havdahl A, Young AI, Eley TC, Njølstad PR, Magnus P, Andreassen OA, Ystrom E, McAdams TA. How important are parents in the development of child anxiety and depression? A genomic analysis of parent-offspring trios in the Norwegian Mother Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). BMC Med 2020; 18:284. [PMID: 33106172 PMCID: PMC7590735 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01760-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies detect associations between parent behaviour and child symptoms of anxiety and depression. Despite knowledge that anxiety and depression are influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors, most studies do not account for shared familial genetic risk. Quantitative genetic designs provide a means of controlling for shared genetics, but rely on observed putative exposure variables, and require data from highly specific family structures. METHODS The intergenerational genomic method, Relatedness Disequilibrium Regression (RDR), indexes environmental effects of parents on child traits using measured genotypes. RDR estimates how much the parent genome influences the child indirectly via the environment, over and above effects of genetic factors acting directly in the child. This 'genetic nurture' effect is agnostic to parent phenotype and captures unmeasured heritable parent behaviours. We applied RDR in a sample of 11,598 parent-offspring trios from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) to estimate parental genetic nurture separately from direct child genetic effects on anxiety and depression symptoms at age 8. We tested for mediation of genetic nurture via maternal anxiety and depression symptoms. Results were compared to a complementary non-genomic pedigree model. RESULTS Parental genetic nurture explained 14% of the variance in depression symptoms at age 8. Subsequent analyses suggested that maternal anxiety and depression partially mediated this effect. The genetic nurture effect was mirrored by the finding of family environmental influence in our pedigree model. In contrast, variance in anxiety symptoms was not significantly influenced by common genetic variation in children or parents, despite a moderate pedigree heritability. CONCLUSIONS Genomic methods like RDR represent new opportunities for genetically sensitive family research on complex human traits, which until now has been largely confined to adoption, twin and other pedigree designs. Our results are relevant to debates about the role of parents in the development of anxiety and depression in children, and possibly where to intervene to reduce problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Cheesman
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Espen Moen Eilertsen
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yasmin I Ahmadzadeh
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Line C Gjerde
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Laurie J Hannigan
- Nic Waals Institute at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Nic Waals Institute at Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alexander I Young
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thalia C Eley
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Pål R Njølstad
- Center of Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescents, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Per Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- NORMENT Centre, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrom
- Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tom A McAdams
- Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Brown A, Bennet J, Rapee RM, Hirshfeld-Becker DR, Bayer JK. Exploring the stress sensitization theory with temperamentally inhibited children: a population-based study. BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:264. [PMID: 32471371 PMCID: PMC7260781 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02159-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study explored whether temperamentally inhibited children who experience early trauma are vulnerable to developing internalizing problems in the face of later life-stressors. METHODS A validated screen for temperamental inhibition was distributed to parents of young children attending preschools in six government regions of Melbourne, Australia. Screening identified 11% of children as inhibited (703 of 6347 screened) and eligible for a prevention study. Participants were 545 parents of inhibited preschoolers (78% uptake), of whom 84% were followed into mid childhood (age 7-10 years: wave 1, n = 446; wave 2, n = 427; wave 3, n = 426). Parents and children then completed questionnaires for child internalizing (anxious and depressive) symptoms, and parents received a diagnostic interview for child anxiety disorder. In mid-childhood parents also completed questionnaires annually to describe recent life-stressors experienced by their child, and any potentially traumatic events in the first four years of life. RESULTS Only one in 14 temperamentally inhibited children had experienced a potentially traumatic event in early childhood. In mid childhood 56% experienced recent life-stressors. Inhibited children who had early life trauma experienced slightly more anxiety disorder and symptoms in mid childhood. Those children with more recent life-stressors in mid childhood also had slightly more symptoms of anxiety and depression. In contrast to stress sensitization, inhibited children with early trauma plus recent stressors did not show especially high mid-childhood internalizing difficulties. CONCLUSIONS Early life trauma and recent life-stressors each convey a small risk for children with an inhibited temperament to develop internalizing problems. Nevertheless, early life stress may not always result in negative sensitization for children in the general population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Brown
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joanna Bennet
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ronald M. Rapee
- Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dina R. Hirshfeld-Becker
- Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jordana K. Bayer
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Wickersham A, Leightley D, Archer M, Fear NT. The association between paternal psychopathology and adolescent depression and anxiety: A systematic review. J Adolesc 2020; 79:232-246. [PMID: 31986478 DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Paternal psychopathology is associated with various adolescent outcomes. With emotional disorders presenting a significant public health concern in the adolescent age group, the aim of this systematic review was to synthesize evidence on the relationship between paternal mental health and adolescent anxiety or depression. METHODS PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Global Health, and PsycINFO were searched for articles which primarily aimed to investigate the relationship between paternal mental health (exposure) and adolescent anxiety or depression (outcome). Articles were assessed for risk of bias, and findings are presented in a narrative synthesis. The protocol is registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018094076). RESULTS Findings from the fourteen included studies indicated that paternal depression is associated with adolescent depression and anxiety. Findings relating to other paternal mental health disorders were inconclusive. Results largely suggested that adolescent depression and anxiety is equally associated with paternal and maternal mental health. The included studies were mostly cross-sectional, and the quality of included studies was mixed. Attempts to focus on the 11-17 year age range were hampered by the variability of age ranges included in studies. CONCLUSIONS Further longitudinal research is needed to clarify the association between paternal mental health disorders other than depression, and adolescent anxiety or depression. Mechanisms in this relationship should also be further explored, and could be informed by existing models on younger children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Wickersham
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College London, United Kingdom; Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
| | - Daniel Leightley
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Archer
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola T Fear
- King's Centre for Military Health Research and Academic Department of Military Mental Health, King's College London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Walker AL, Peters PH, de Rooij SR, Henrichs J, Witteveen AB, Verhoeven CJM, Vrijkotte TGM, de Jonge A. The Long-Term Impact of Maternal Anxiety and Depression Postpartum and in Early Childhood on Child and Paternal Mental Health at 11-12 Years Follow-Up. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:562237. [PMID: 33192681 PMCID: PMC7531027 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.562237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postpartum maternal anxiety and depression can affect child development and family functioning. However, the long-term impact of postpartum maternal anxiety and depression on child and paternal mental health is understudied. The present large-scale prospective cohort study is one of the first to investigate whether maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms postpartum and at child age 5-6 years separately and synergistically increase paternal anxiety and depressive symptoms and child emotional problems in early adolescence at age 11-12 years. Secondly, we investigated whether concurrent paternal anxiety and depressive symptoms at child age 11-12 years moderated the association between maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms in the postpartum period and at child age 5-6 years with child emotional problems at age 11-12 years. METHODS This study is part of the Amsterdam Born Children and Development (ABCD) cohort study, the Netherlands (N = 2.298). Maternal postpartum anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at 13 weeks postpartum. Maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms at child age 5-6 years and parental anxiety and depressive symptoms at 11-12 years were assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Child emotional problems were reported by the child and a teacher using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Multivariable linear regression was conducted, adjusted for demographic, perinatal/obstetric confounders, and affective symptoms of the other family members at 11-12 years. RESULTS Neither maternal anxiety nor depressive symptoms were related to paternal depressive symptoms at child age 11-12 years, while maternal postpartum depressive symptoms, depressive symptoms at 5-6 years and maternal anxiety at 5-6 years were positively related to paternal anxiety at 11-12 years. However, effect sizes were small. Only maternal postpartum depression was positively but weakly associated with more child emotional problems at 11-12 years. Although paternal concurrent affective symptoms were positively related to more child emotional problems in early adolescence, they did not moderate the association between maternal symptoms and child emotional problems. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that fathers and children seem to be affected only to a small extent by maternal postpartum anxiety or depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika L Walker
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, AVAG-Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Priya H Peters
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Susanne R de Rooij
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jens Henrichs
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, AVAG-Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anke B Witteveen
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, AVAG-Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Corine J M Verhoeven
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, AVAG-Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Division of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Tanja G M Vrijkotte
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ank de Jonge
- Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, AVAG-Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Leve LD, Neiderhiser JM, Ganiban JM, Natsuaki MN, Shaw DS, Reiss D. The Early Growth and Development Study: A Dual-Family Adoption Study from Birth Through Adolescence. Twin Res Hum Genet 2019; 22:716-727. [PMID: 31526412 PMCID: PMC7056588 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Early Growth and Development Study (EGDS) is a prospective adoption study of birth parents, adoptive parents and adopted children (n = 561 adoptees). The original sample has been expanded to include siblings of the EGDS adoptees who were reared by the birth mother and assessed beginning at age 7 years (n = 217 biological children), and additional siblings in both the birth and adoptive family homes, recruited when the adoptees were 8-15 years old (n = 823). The overall study aims are to examine how family, peer and contextual processes affect child and adolescent adjustment, and to examine their interplay (mediation, moderation) with genetic influences. Adoptive and birth parents were originally recruited through adoption agencies located throughout the USA following the birth of a child. Assessments are ongoing and occurred in 9 month's intervals until the adoptees turned 3 years of age, and in 1 to 2 year intervals thereafter through age 15. Data collection includes the following primary constructs: child temperament, behavior problems, mental health, peer relations, executive functioning, school performance and health; birth and adoptive parent personality characteristics, mental health, health, context, substance use, parenting and marital relations; and the prenatal environment. Findings highlight the power of the adoption design to detect environmental influences on child development and provide evidence of complex interactions and correlations between genetic, prenatal environmental and postnatal environmental influences on a range of child outcomes. The study sample, procedures and an overview of findings are summarized and ongoing assessment activities are described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leslie D. Leve
- Prevention Science Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, 97403, USA
| | - Jenae M. Neiderhiser
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, USA
| | - Jody M. Ganiban
- Center for Family Research, George Washington University, Washington DC, 20037, USA
| | - Misaki N. Natsuaki
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California, 92521, USA
| | - Daniel S. Shaw
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, USA
| | - David Reiss
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06519, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Children of the Twins Early Development Study (CoTEDS): A Children-of-Twins Study. Twin Res Hum Genet 2019; 22:514-522. [PMID: 31496451 DOI: 10.1017/thg.2019.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The Children of the Twins Early Development Study (CoTEDS) is a new prospective children-of-twins study in the UK, designed to investigate intergenerational associations across child developmental stages. CoTEDS will enable research on genetic and environmental factors that underpin parent-child associations, with a focus on mental health and cognitive-related traits. Through CoTEDS, we will have a new lens to examine the roles that parents play in influencing child development, as well as the genetic and environmental factors that shape parenting behavior and experiences. Recruitment is ongoing from the sample of approximately 20,000 contactable adult twins who have been enrolled in the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) since infancy. TEDS twins are invited to register all offspring to CoTEDS at birth, with 554 children registered as of May 2019. By recruiting the second generation of TEDS participants, CoTEDS will include information on adult twins and their offspring from infancy. Parent questionnaire-based data collection is now underway for 1- and 2-year-old CoTEDS infants, with further waves of data collection planned. Current data collection includes the following primary constructs: child mental health, temperament, language and cognitive development; parent mental health and social relationships; parenting behaviors and feelings; and other socioecological factors. Measurement tools have been selected with reference to existing genetically informative cohort studies to ensure overlap in phenotypes measured at corresponding stages of development. This built-in study overlap is intended to enable replication and triangulation of future analyses across samples and research designs. Here, we summarize study protocols and measurement procedures and describe future plans.
Collapse
|