Cognitive vulnerability in children at risk for depression

Abstract

Cognitive, developmental, and psychodynamic theories all hypothesize that negative self-concepts acquired in childhood may induce vulnerability to depression. Children at risk because of maternal major affective disorder, compared with children of medically ill and normal mothers, were examined for evidence of negative cognitions about themselves, and were found to have more negative self-concept, less positive self-schemas, and more negative attributional style. It was further predicted that negative cognitions about the self would be related to maternal depression and chronic stress, and to the quality of perceived and actual interactions with the mother. In general, the predicted associations were obtained, supporting speculations about how maternal affective disorder is associated with stress and with relatively negative and unsupportive relationships with children that in turn diminish children's self-regard.

An examination of the association between the 5-HTT promoter region polymorphism and depressogenic attributional styles in childhood

“…Although several such models exist (e.g., Alloy, Lipman, & Abramson, 1992;Beck, 1976;Seligman, 1975), a common theme prevails in each: individuals whose thinking is characterized by self-blame, pessimism, and helplessness are at risk for the development of depression. In particular, attributional styles characterized by internal, stable, and global attributions for negative events have been linked to the development of depression in the presence of negative life events (Abramson, Seligman, & Teasdale, 1978;Alloy et al, 1992;Conley, Haines, Hilt, & Metalsky, 2001), and a growing literature indicates that cognitive vulnerability to depression may emerge early in life (Ingram, 2003;Jaenicke, Hammen, Zupan, Hiroto, Gordon, & Adrian, 1987).…”

The mental health and parenting practices of recently separated parents

“…As discussed earlier, children of parents with mental health issues have a much higher chance of experiencing mental health issues themselves than children of non-depressed parents (Coyne & Downey, 1991) and are also at higher risk for numerous other problems (Billings & Moos, 1983;Jaenicke et al, 1987;McCombs-Thomas & Forehand, 1993;Radke-Yarrow, 1998). Therefore, this suggests that more should be done to help alleviate depression and other mental health issues in recently separated parents as soon as possible.…”

“…A negative impact on the child"s self-concept, less positive selfschemas, and a more negative attributional style has also been found to occur when parental mental health issues are present (Jaenicke et al, 1987). Therefore, research on the impact of separation is important as there are serious implications resulting for both children and adults.…”

Parent-adolescent conflict and depression symptoms of adolescents: mediator role of self-esteem

“…If the child received constant negative feedback from family, it is likely that the child forms negative self-perception, and this situation is becoming a risk factor for the child in terms of susceptibility to depression (39). It was found that children who are constantly criticized by his/her mother and receive negative feedback have a greater tendency to selfblame in the face of adverse events (40). Negative selfesteem has been shown to be associated positively with depression in numerous studies (41)(42)(43).…”