Parenting with bipolar disorder: Coping with risk of mood disorders to children

Abstract

Children of individuals with bipolar disorder (BPD) have increased risk for mood disorders and other adverse psychosocial outcomes due to genetic and environmental risk. Though parents with BPD are aware of increased risk to children, little is known about efforts undertaken in response or their perceived utility. Among parents who self-report with BPD, this study identifies key variables associated with parental coping with children’s risk of mood disorders; and explores the relationship between monitoring children’s moods and perceived coping efficacy. In this U.S. study, active parental coping with, and cognitive distancing from, child’s risk were measured using novel scales. Parents (n=266) who self-identified as having BPD completed a web-based survey. They had at least one unaffected child. Most participants endorsed monitoring their children’s moods. Monitoring was associated with increased perceived control over the child’s well-being (p<0.005), but not feeling less worried. Active parental coping with risk to children was positively associated with active coping with own illness (β=0.25, p=0.001), family history (β=0.24, p=0.001), and self-report of current depression (β=0.16, p=0.037), explaining 13.8% of the variance (F=8.81, p<0.001). Cognitive distancing from the child’s risk was positively associated with confidence in diagnosis (β=0.25, p=0.001), and negatively associated with self-report of current mania (β=−0.19, p=0.007), perceiving BPD as genetic (β=−0.26, p<0.001) and having more children (β=−0.20, p=0.004); explaining 16.2% of the variance (F=8.63, p<0.001). Parents’ adaptation to their own BPD was modestly correlated with active coping with child’s risk (r=0.15, p<.05) but not with cognitive distancing. The findings support the importance of understanding causal attributions and the value of genetic education and counseling for parents with BPD. Further research is necessary to elucidate the psychological benefits of active coping versus cognitive distancing from child’s risk, and explore additional variables that predict parental coping with children’s risk of mood disorders.

Relationship Between Illness Representations, Psychosocial Adjustment, and Treatment Outcomes in Mental Disorders: A Mini Review

“…The relationship between representation of illness severity and adaptation was mediated by coping (Peay et al, 2013). Finally, severity perceived was not linked with parents' ability to cope with the risk of mood disorders in children (Peay et al, 2014).…”

“…Four studies have explored the relationship between psychosocial adjustment and illness representations in people with a bipolar disorder (Lobban et al, 2013;Peay et al, 2013Peay et al, , 2014Dodd et al, 2017). Good recovery was associated with high levels of treatment and personal control and low levels of perceived consequences, emotional representations, identity, and self-blame (Dodd et al, 2017).…”

Bipolar Disorder, Genetic Risk, and Reproductive Decision-Making: A Qualitative Study of Social Media Discussion Boards

“…Neither study looked at how individuals with bipolar disorder balanced and negotiated these factors in making decisions about whether or not to have children. A 2014 study on parenting with bipolar disorder (Peay, Rosenstein, & Biesecker, 2014) found that individuals with bipolar disorder who used "active coping" with their own bipolar disorder, meaning that they proactively adjusted their lifestyle to prevent triggers for mood episodes, were more likely to use the same kinds of strategies for parenting their children. Our results also indicate that individuals' own experiences living with bipolar disorder influence their reproductive decision-making.…”

Young children's experiences of living with a parent with bipolar disorder: Understanding the child's perspective

“…More recent research has explored children's psychological risk (Peay, Rosenstein, & Biesecker, ), psychosocial functioning, and socio‐emotional development. Studies have indicated that children of parents with BD may not function as well those of ‘healthy’ parents in areas including life satisfaction, recreation, work, school, and interpersonal relationships (Bella et al ., ).…”