Intergenerational Transmission of Depression during Adolescence: The Mediating Roles of Hostile Attribution Bias, Empathic Concern, and Social Self-Concept

Abstract

Few studies have empirically examined the role of peer microsystem in the intergenerational transmission of depression, and more importantly, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this potential pathway of intergenerational transmission. The purpose of the current study was to examine the sequential mediation effects of adolescent hostile attribution bias, empathic concern, and social self-concept on the association between maternal depression and adolescent depression. An urban Chinese sample of 761 mother-child dyads was investigated when the adolescents were in secondary school (M = 14.36 years, range =12.33–16.92 years, 52.3% female). The results provided evidence of cross-generational continuity in depression during adolescence, and the hypothesized sequential mediation model was supported. The findings highlight the importance of peer-related factors during the intergenerational transmission of depression and have important implications for interpersonal interventions that aim to prevent depression during adolescence. The limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are briefly discussed.

Keywords:

• Maternal depression
• adolescent depression
• hostile attribution bias
• empathic concern
• social self-concept

Author Notes

Xing Wei is an Associate Professor at Qingdao University. His major research interests include parent-adolescent relationships, parents’ and children’s internalizing problems, the development of child and adolescent problem behaviors, and parenting in the context of Chinese culture.

Xi Li is a master candidate at Qingdao University. Her major research interests include parent-adolescent relationships and children and adolescents’ internalizing problems.

Xiaoqin Teng is a graduate at Qingdao University. Her major research interests include child problem behaviors and peer relations.

Jingyao Bai is a graduate at Qingdao University. Her major research interests include parenting styles and adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors.

Feifei Ren is an Associate Professor at Qingdao University. Her major research interests include learning and creativity, and Chinese parents’ anxiety.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Social Science Planning Project of Shandong Province (19DJY02, 20DJYJ04).