Describe developmental consequences associated with parental depression.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In the weeks after birth, infants of depressed mothers sleep poorly, are less attentive to their surroundings, and have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The more extreme the depression and the greater the number of stressors in a mother's life (such as marital discord, little or no social support, and poverty), the more the parent-child relationship suffers. When maternal depression persists, the parent-child relationship worsens. Depressed parents view their infants negatively, which contributes to their inept caregiving. As their children get older, lack of warmth and involvement is often accompanied by inconsistent discipline-sometimes lax, at other times too forceful. Paternal depression is also linked to dissatisfaction with marriage after childbirth and to other life stressors, including job loss and divorce. Persistent paternal depression is, like maternal depression, a strong predictor of child behavior problems-especially overactivity, defiance, and aggression in boys. Paternal depression is linked to frequent father-child conflict as children grow older. Over time, children subjected to parental negativity develop a pessimistic worldview-one in which they lack self-confidence and perceive their parents and other people as threatening. Children who constantly feel in danger are especially likely to become overly aroused in stressful situations, easily losing control in the face of cognitive and social challenges. Although children of depressed parents may inherit a tendency toward emotional and behavior problems, quality of parenting is a major factor in their adjustment.