The Impacts of Parental Schizophrenia on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Offspring: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Previous literature has identified the development and prevalence of psychiatric disorders amongst offspring of those with schizophrenia. Little attention has been given to the investigation of the impacts of parental schizophrenia on the psychosocial well-being of offspring. Thirteen papers were chosen, and the quality was assessed using a quality assessment tool for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The results displayed an overall negative impact on aspects of psychosocial wellbeing on offspring of those with schizophrenia. The negative impacts of parental schizophrenia resulted in a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders, lower levels of social functioning (social deficits), poorer employment situations, lower levels of self-concept (e.g. self-esteem and self-confidence) and lowered quality of life in comparison to healthy controls (HC) and other high-risk groups. Findings support the diathesis-stress model which suggests negative impacts on the psychosocial well-being of offspring are due to the interplay between genetic and environmental factors coinciding with vulnerabilities in the brain. This provides opportunities for clinicians to develop interventions for offspring of those with schizophrenia and rationalises public health to provide more funding for this group to be used as a preventative method.

Parental mental illness and their offspring’s mental health in Rwanda: neuropsychiatric hospital of Rwanda

“…The transmission of signs and symptoms from parents to their off-springs vary widely vary and they refer to a wide range of mental health conditions-disorders that affect mood, thinking and behaviors of offspring. The mental psychopathologies includes depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors [ 20 – 22 ]. Other researchers confirmed the impact of parental mental diseases on their offspring particularly postnatal depression.…”

“…These effects might weaken their psychosocial, cognitive, and personality development. They also documented that they might develop health problems such as mental retardation, lower performance in their daily activities and at school, and difficulties in their social relationships [ 12 , 16 , 20 , 36 , 37 ]. Although the psychiatric disorders and behavioral problems might occur since childhood, they also may occur even in the adolescenthood and adulthood [ 18 , 22 ].…”