Research on the effects of parental depression

Question

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Research on the effects of parental depression suggests that parental psychopathology leads to changes in parenting behavior that has lasting effects on children. These changes include less warmth, more negativity, and less consistent discipline. Children of depressed parents are also more likely to develop depression themselves, suggesting that environmental factors play a significant role in the development of childhood depression. The influence of peers may also be important, but it is not greater than that of parents. While genes may play a role in the etiology of childhood depression, research suggests that environmental factors are also important, and that the effects of parental depression on children cannot be fully explained by genetic factors alone.

Research on the Effects of Parental Depression