Date of Completion
2015
Document Type
Honors College Thesis
Department
Department of Psychological Science
Thesis Type
Honors College, College of Arts and Science Honors
First Advisor
Jamie Abaied
Second Advisor
Timothy Stickle
Third Advisor
Kathy Fox
Keywords
parent depression, child depression, autonomy support, psychological control, parenting, mediation
Abstract
Research indicates that parental depressive symptoms have significant implications for child depressive symptoms. However, little is known about parenting styles as a possible mediator of the link between parental and child depressive symptoms. This study examined the links between parental depressive symptoms, parenting behaviors including autonomy support and psychological control, and child depressive symptoms. Data was collected from 64 8-10 year olds via questionnaires administered at the Family Development Lab at the University of Vermont. High levels of autonomy support were found to predict lower levels of child depressive symptoms, and high levels of psychological control were found to predict higher levels of child depressive symptoms. No significant associations were found between parental depressive symptoms and child depressive symptoms, autonomy support, or psychological control. The results suggest that granting a child autonomy is one way to prevent them from developing depressive symptoms, whereas psychological control may enhance risk for depressive symptoms.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Waite, Abigail, "Parenting as a Mediator of the Link between Parental Depressive Symptoms and Child Depressive Symptoms" (2015). UVM Honors College Senior Theses. 60.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses/60