Parents With Mental Illness: The Cycle of Intergenerational Mental Illness

Abstract

This article provides an insight into the under-explored lives of parents with mental illness. In particular, this article considers the experiences of parents with mental illness who grew up with parents who also had mental illness, or experienced issues related to violence, abuse and neglect during childhood. Due to the dearth of research in this area there is minimal insight into how parents experience mental illness and even less significance is placed on exploring how intergenerational mental illness and backgrounds of violence, abuse and neglect impact on parenthood. This qualitative study generates information about how intergenerational family mental illness, and other issues identified in the course of the study, affected the participants' experiences of being a parent.

Art Therapy for Psychosocial Problems in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Narrative Review on Art Therapeutic Means and Forms of Expression, Therapist Behavior, and Supposed Mechanisms of Change

“…These theories focus on the role of the early caregiver–child relationships and assume that (a lack of) security of attachment affects the child's self-(emotion)regulatory capacity and therefore his or her emotional, behavioral, and social competence (Veríssimo et al, 2014 ; Brumariu, 2015 ; Groh et al, 2016 ). Research has identified a number of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to the development or progression of psychosocial problems (Arango et al, 2018 ), namely, trauma, adverse childhood experiences, genetic predisposition, and temperament (Boursnell, 2011 ; Sellers et al, 2013 ; Wright and Simms, 2015 ; Patrick et al, 2019 ).…”

A cross‐sectional study on intergenerational parenting and attachment patterns in adult children of parents with mental illness

“…Most intergenerational studies have concentrated on the extreme ends of parental dysfunction, for example, child abuse and parental separation (Kunz, 2001;Robboy & Anderson, 2011) or the genetic transmission of mental illness (Boursnell, 2011;Oyserman et al, 2005). In the present study, however, intergenerational influences are defined as "a process through which purposively or unintendedly an earlier generation psychologically influences parenting attitudes and behaviour of the next generation" (Van IJzendoorn, 1992, p.76-77).…”

“…The review presented thus far highlights commonly reported challenges associated with parenting with a mental illness. However, due to the scant research on adult children, whether parental mental illness poses a constant risk factor throughout a child's developmental trajectory remains inconclusive (Boursnell, ). From an intergenerational perspective, a growing body of research indicates that not only do parents (i.e., Generation 1; G1) play a formative role in determining their children's development but they also have a significant influence on how their children (G2) will, in turn, parent their own children (G3; Madden et al, ; Neppl, Conger, Scaramella, & Ontai, ; Van IJzendoorn, ).…”

“…From an intergenerational perspective, a growing body of research indicates that not only do parents (i.e., Generation 1; G1) play a formative role in determining their children's development but they also have a significant influence on how their children (G2) will, in turn, parent their own children (G3; Madden et al, ; Neppl, Conger, Scaramella, & Ontai, ; Van IJzendoorn, ). Most intergenerational studies have concentrated on the extreme ends of parental dysfunction, for example, child abuse and parental separation (Kunz, ; Robboy & Anderson, ) or the genetic transmission of mental illness (Boursnell, ; Oyserman et al, ). In the present study, however, intergenerational influences are defined as “a process through which purposively or unintendedly an earlier generation psychologically influences parenting attitudes and behaviour of the next generation” (Van IJzendoorn, , p.76–77).…”

“…The review presented thus far highlights commonly reported challenges associated with parenting with a mental illness. However, due to the scant research on adult children, whether parental mental illness poses a constant risk factor throughout a child's developmental trajectory remains inconclusive (Boursnell, 2011).…”