A pilot study of a family-focused intervention for children and families affected by maternal depression

Abstract

A non-experimental pilot study examined child, mother, and family outcomes of a 10-session multi-family group intervention designed to reduce risk and promote resilience for mothers with depression and their families. Positive changes following the Keeping Families Strong intervention included mother-reported decreases in child behavior and emotional problems, improvements in the quality of family interactions and routines, and improvements in their own well being and support from others. Children (9–16 years) reported decreased internalizing symptoms, improved coping, increased maternal warmth and acceptance, and decreased stressful family events. Attendance and mother-reported satisfaction were high, indicating the perceived value of the intervention.

The Role of Family Routines in the Intergenerational Transmission of Depressive Symptoms between Parents and their Adolescent Children

“…As researchers and clinicians seek to understand and thwart the intergenerational transmission of depression between parents and children, they increasingly turn to modifiable characteristics of the family environment that may confer risk (Connell & Dishion, 2008; Valdez, Mills, Barrueco, Leis, & Riley, 2010). While previous work has tended to focus on the quality of parenting characteristics, such as parental warmth or harshness, the current work sought to test a model in which structural aspects such as routines within families may contribute to key immunologic and affective processes.…”

The Relationship Among Caregiver Depressive Symptoms, Parenting Behavior, and Family-Centered Care

“…When such interventions are developed, it would be important to include strategies for the busy pediatric provider to gain confidence in his/her initial efforts to intervene. Recent pilot work has demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of a group intervention offered in a community health clinic (Valdez, Mills, Barrueco, Leis, & Riley, 2011;Valdez, Padilla, Moore, & Magana). Large, randomized clinical trials are needed to further determine the long-term effects of such interventions.…”

Intervention programs for children whose parents have a mental illness: a review

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Of these, six programs target families where a parent has depression and/or anxiety. 7,8,[10][11][12][13] The most prominent, Family Talk, targets families where a parent is diagnosed with a major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, with children aged between 8 and 15 years who have never been treated for an affective disorder. 10,11 Family Talk employs a cognitive psychoeducational approach of between six and 10 sessions, some of which are directed to parents, some to the children and some to the whole family.…”