Parenting and Depression: Differences Across Parental Roles

Keywords

children, depression, NLSY79, parenting, parent–child relationships, psychological well-being

Abstract

Few empirical studies have examined the association between parenthood and psychological well-being. Using NLSY79 data (n = 6,297), we examined how various parental roles, or specific parent–child relationship types, were associated with depressive symptoms in adults. We hypothesized that less traditional and more complex parental roles would be associated with higher depressive symptoms. Ordinary least squares regression results revealed that having a stepchild was associated with higher depressive symptoms, regardless of the stepchild’s residential status. Additionally, certain combinations of parental roles were a risk factor for depressive symptoms, including having a biological child residing in the home and another biological child residing outside the home simultaneously, a biological child and a stepchild residing together (with or without a new biological child), and having more than two combined parental roles in general. Findings suggested certain parental roles are indeed associated with higher depressive symptoms, while others may be null relationships.

Original Publication Citation

Pace, G.T.* & Shafer, K. (2015). “Parenting and Depression: Differences Across Parental Roles.” Journal of Family Issues, 36(8): 1001-1021.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2013-11-11

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7212

Publisher

Journal of Family Issues

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Sociology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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