Intergenerational Transmission of Internalizing Problems: Effects of Parental and Grandparental Major Depressive Disorder on Child Behavior

Abstract

Effects of lifetime histories of grandparental (G1) and parental (G2) major depressive disorder (MDD) on children's (G3) internalizing problems were investigated among 267 G3 children (ages 2–18 years) who received Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) ratings and had diagnostic data available on 267 biological G2 parents and 527 biological G1 grandparents. Results indicated that G1 MDD conferred risk for G2 MDD, but not for G3 CBCL scores. G2 MDD predicted higher G3 Internalizing and Anxious/Depressed scores. Also, there was an interaction between G1 MDD and G2 MDD in predicting higher G3 Anxious/Depressed scores such that scores were highest among children with both depressed parents and grandparents. These effects were robust to statistical adjustments for status variables and parental relationship measures but not to adjustment for concurrent parental depressive symptoms.

Notes

¹In 13 (4.32%) cases, the selected CBCL rating predated the onset of G2 MDD. Analyses were repeated while including a variable reflecting the temporal sequence of G2 MDD onset and G3 CBCL ratings (0 = G2 MDD onset prior to G3 CBCL rating; 1 = G2 MDD onset after G3 CBCL rating). In no instance was this variable significantly associated with any G3 outcome or meaningfully alter results (available upon request to the first author).

Note: G1 = generation 1; G2 = generation 2; MDD = major depressive disorder; ANX = any anxiety disorder; SUD = any substance use disorder. ^a G1 n = 260; G2 n = 84. ^b G1 n = 267; G2 n = 183. ^c G1 N = 527; G2 N = 267. ∗χ² significant gender difference at p < .001.

Note: N = 267. All scores are t scores. G2 = generation 2; MDD = major depressive disorder; G3 = generation 3; CBCL = Child Behavior Checklist; sr = semipartial correlation. ^a Adjusted for G2 CBCL rater status and G2 and G3 age and sex (n = 267, df = 261). ^b Adjusted for G2 Marital Status, Education, and Income (n = 254, df = 245). ^c Adjusted for G2 Dyadic Adjustment, O'Leary Porter, Major Life Events and Daily Hassles (n = 206, df = 193). ^† p = .06. ∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01.

²Regression analyses were conducted to test the possibility that G3 age moderated the effects of G1 MDD and G2 MDD on G3 outcomes in this sample. No moderation effects emerged, although the young age of our sample may have contributed to the null effects.

This research was supported by NIMH awards MH40501, MH50522, and MH52858 to Peter M. Lewinsohn and MH75744 to Jeremy W. Pettit.