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A cross‐sectional study on intergenerational parenting and attachment patterns in adult children of parents with mental illness
Author(s) -
Patrick Pamela M.,
Reupert Andrea E.,
McLean Louise A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
child and family social work
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-2206
pISSN - 1356-7500
DOI - 10.1111/cfs.12641
Subject(s) - mental illness , mental health , psychology , population , competence (human resources) , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , empowerment , permissive , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , environmental health , virology , political science , law
Abstract The present study adds to the existing knowledge about adult children of parents with mental illness. The aim was to explore differences between adult children of parents with mental illness and parents in the general population on a range of adult relationship and parenting variables. Utilizing a cross‐sectional design, 86 adults across Australia participated in this study (47 general population; 39 adult children of parents with mental illness). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and parametric tests. Adult children of parents with mental illness were found to be more permissive in their parenting compared with parents in the general population. However, between‐group differences were not found on measures of parenting competence, adult attachment, and relationship satisfaction. These findings suggest that adult children of parents with mental illness are able to thrive just as well as individuals in the general population but may require some support in the form of parental skills training. The paper concludes by highlighting the role of mental health professionals in the empowerment and resilience building of adult children of parents with mental illness.