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A cross‐sectional survey of the effect on emerging adults living with a depressed parent
Author(s) -
Mechling B. M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of psychiatric and mental health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1365-2850
pISSN - 1351-0126
DOI - 10.1111/jpm.12244
Subject(s) - psychosocial , feeling , psychology , developmental psychology , mental health , young adult , clinical psychology , depression (economics) , cross sectional study , medicine , psychiatry , social psychology , economics , macroeconomics , pathology
Accessible summary Emerging adults, or those between ages 18 and 25, are at increased risk for mental health problems as they transition into adult roles and relationships. These risks are magnified when a parent has suffered with depression during that emerging adult's upbringing. Studies examining children of depressed parents tend to focus on samples under the age of 18 when children have yet to develop abstract thinking (e.g. improved reasoning skills, greater understanding of life experiences) and have had less time to reflect on their own experience. It has been difficult to decipher the most important elements experienced by these children and the impact on emerging adult outcomes and most studies lack theory guiding the work. Some evidence suggests that they encounter a form of loss. This study is unique in that the retrospective experience of emerging adults who grew up with a depressed parent was examined using variables based on propositions from Ambiguous Loss Theory and the impact on current psychosocial well‐being.Abstract A parent who is depressed is physically present, but may be psychologically absent, or different to their children. Changes in the parent–child relationship, feelings of loss, and increased stress can occur for the child. These factors can impair psychosocial well‐being throughout the child's upbringing, and the effects might impact that child the most in their transition to adulthood. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine factors experienced while growing up with a depressed parent that might contribute to the current psychosocial well‐being of emerging adults (individuals between the ages of 18 and 25) using ambiguous loss theory as a theoretical lens. A cross‐sectional, correlational design with multiple regression analysis was used to examine relationships between emerging adults' ( n = 120) perceptions of retrospective duration and understanding of parent's depression, caregiving, stress, social support, hope, and boundary ambiguity and current psychosocial well‐being. Experiencing hope, stress, and then the length of parent's depression during their upbringing were the most predictive variables for emerging adult psychosocial well‐being. Findings from this study will help mental health professionals better understand factors contributing to outcomes for this population. The knowledge to be gained is important for developing or refining age and developmentally appropriate interventions aimed at improving outcomes of adult children of depressed parents.