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Intergenerational continuity of parental rejection and depressed affect
L B Whitbeck1, D R Hoyt, R L Simons
1Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|December 11, 1992
Summary
Parental rejection transmits depressed mood across generations. This study examined how parental traits influence child development, finding a cyclical link between parental depression and rejection affecting offspring. Keywords: intergenerational transmission, depressed mood, parental rejection.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Family Studies
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Parental personality traits can influence parent-child interactions.
- Parent-child interactions may increase offspring's risk for developmental issues.
- Previous models suggest cyclical transmission of traits across generations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the intergenerational continuity of depressed mood and rejecting parenting.
- To test a cyclical transmission model in a sample of intact families.
- To investigate the role of parental rejection in transmitting depressed mood.
Main Methods:
- Structural equation modeling was used.
- Survey and observational data from 451 intact families were analyzed.
- Multiple reporters and indicators were employed to reduce bias.
Main Results:
- A pattern of intergenerational transmission of depressed mood through parental rejection was identified.
- The findings partially replicated the Elder, Caspi, and Downey (1986) intergenerational model.
- Parental rejection was a key mechanism in transmitting depressed mood.
Conclusions:
- Depressed mood can be transmitted across generations via parental rejection.
- Parental rejection plays a significant role in the intergenerational cycle of mood disorders.
- Methodological improvements enhance the validity of these intergenerational findings.