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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
The family environment and developmental psychopathology: the unique and interactive effects of depression,
Carrie George1, Keith C Herman, Rick Ostrander
1Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, CMSC 313, Baltimore, MD 21287-3325, USA.
Abstract:
Prior studies have found remarkable similarity in the family characteristics across a wide range of child psychopathologies. This study investigated the unique relationships between symptoms of depression, conduct problems/aggression, and inattention/hyperactivity and characteristics of the family environment. Parents and teachers completed multiple behavioral, emotional, and family measures to describe the characteristics of a community sample of 362 children. Results indicated that depression and conduct problems/aggression symptoms were uniquely associated with specific family environments. Both symptom clusters predicted family environments marked by less cohesiveness and intellectual/cultural pursuits and greater conflict. Depression alone was related to less expressiveness, independence, and activity, and to higher levels of control. Inattention/hyperactivity was not uniquely related to any aspect of family environment when controlling for depression and conduct/aggression problems, nor were combinations of symptoms. Findings are discussed with regard to implications for understanding clinical presentations, comorbidity, and treatment.
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