The persistence of maternal distress and symptoms of distress in adult offspring

Abstract

This study examined the influence of maternal psychological distress symptoms during offspring's preschool, middle childhood, and adolescent years on the distress symptoms of offspring in adulthood. Data were derived from the British Cohort Study, a longitudinal study of children born in a one-week period in 1970. Results indicated that greater symptoms of maternal distress that persisted over multiple stages of offspring development were generally associated with greater symptoms of distress in adult offspring. The effect of greater maternal distress symptoms that persisted across preschool, middle childhood, and adolescence on adult offspring, however, was not significantly different from the long term effects of a single, but early, exposure to maternal distress once offspring's psychosocial adjustment during adolescence was considered. The relationship between mother and offspring distress symptoms did not vary for male and female offspring. The results provide general support for a cumulative effect perspective in that continuous exposure to maternal distress symptoms had negative consequences in adulthood, and that the adult effect of exposure in early or middle childhood was explained by adolescent adjustment.

Effects of early maternal distress and parenting on the development of children's self-regulation and externalizing behavior

“…Chronic maternal distress is theorized as being more adverse than a single exposure, but empirical evidence supporting this is inconsistent; stronger support indicates children exposed to early maternal distress do not recover to similar levels of functioning as nonexposed children (Goodman & Gotlib, 1999). In a recent study, maternal distress enduring from preschool to adolescence predicted more emotional distress in adult offspring, but effects did not differ from a single exposure in preschool when accounting for adolescent adjustment (Hamilton, 2009). In addition, maternal use of inductive discipline is relatively stable during toddlerhood, and a mother's rank order relative to others does not change over time (Huang et al, 2009).…”

Risk and Resilience in Coping With Chronic Life Stress

“…35,36 Postnatally, chronic exposure to parental distress (such as negative emotions and psychopathology), family conflict, and/or family disorganization represent enduring developmental stressors for many children, with health-detrimental psychoneuroimmunological repercussions. 6,30,37,38 Managing Life Demands Individual propensities for appraising and managing stressful circumstances may either buffer or exacerbate perceived stress. Indeed, individual differences in appraisal and coping repeatedly have been identified as critical mediators of stress risk or resilience.…”

“…35,36 Postnatally, chronic exposure to parental distress (such as negative emotions and psychopathology), family conflict, and/or family disorganization represent enduring developmental stressors for many children,with health-detrimental psychoneuroimmunological repercussions. 6,30,37,38…”

Maternal Distress Influences Young Children’s Family Representations Through Maternal View of Child Behavior and Parent–Child Interactions

“…Studies of maternal distress suggest that distress is stable over time (16,17). However, as noted by others, a limitation of existing research is the focus on singular aspects of distress, most commonly depression, despite the strong relationship between depressive symptoms and other indicators of distress in the family system (e.g., high family conflict, quality of marital relationship) (16).…”