Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T15:19:58.037Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Family Processes in Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 October 2014

Mark R. Dadds*
Affiliation:
Griffith University
Paula M. Barrett
Affiliation:
Griffith University
*
School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, QLD 4111, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Anxiety and depression tend to run in families. This paper reviews some of the family processes that are implicated in the development, maintenance, and treatment of these problems in children and adolescents. Empirical studies and our theoretical review show that social learning processes within the context of intimate relationships are important in the development of anxiety and depression. Family processes have been shown to be important in the treatment of anxiety disorders but parallel evidence is lacking with regard to depression in adolescents. Two models are shown to have demonstrated explanatory power and empirical support: social learning theory and attachment theory. Examples are given of how these models can be contrasted and integrated at both clinical and theoretical levels.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Adam, K.S., Sheldon-Keller, A.E., & West, M. (1996). Attachment organisation and history of suicidal behavior in clinical adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 64, 264272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ainsworth, M.D.S. (1989). Attachments beyond infancy. American Psychologist, 44, 709716.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Barrett, P.M., Dadds, M.R., & Rapee, R. M. (1996). Family treatment of childhood anxiety: A controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 333342.Google Scholar
Barrett, P.M., Rapee, R.M., Dadds, M. R., & Ryan, S. (1996). Family enhancement of cognitive styles in anxious and aggressive children: The FEAR effect. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 24, 187203.Google Scholar
Bernstein, G.A., & Borchardt, C.M. (1991). Anxiety disorders of childhood and adolescence. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 519532.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation, anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Brent, D., Holder, D., Kolko, D. (1993). A psychotherapy treatment for depressed children: Models and treatment integrity. Paper presented at the conference for Psychotherapy Research, Pittsburgh.Google Scholar
Brewin, C.R. (1987). Cognitive foundations of clinical psychology. London: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Cobham, V.E., & Dadds, M.R. (1995, 07). Group treatment of anxious children: The role of parental anxiety. Paper presented at the 5th World Congress of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Cole, D.A., & Rehm, L.P. (1986). Family interaction patterns and childhood depression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 297314.Google Scholar
Connell, H.M. (1972). Depression in childhood. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 4, 7185.Google Scholar
Cowan, P.A., Cohn, D.A., Pape-Cowan, C.P., & Pearson, J.L. (1996). Parents' attachment histories and children's externalising and internalising behaviors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 5363.Google Scholar
Crook, T., Riskin, A., & Eliot, J. (1981). Parent–child relationship and adult depression. Child Development, 52, 950957.Google Scholar
Cumsille, P., & Epstein, N. (1994). Family cohesion, family adaptability, social support and adolescent depressive symptoms in outpatient clinic families. Journal of Family Psychology, 8, 202214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cytryn, L., & McKnew, D.H. (1974). Factors influencing the changing clinical expression of the depressive process in children. American Journal of Psychiatry, 131, 879881.Google Scholar
Dadds, M.R., Barrett, P.M., Rapee, R.M., & Ryan, S. (in press). Family process and child anxiety and aggression: An observational analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.Google Scholar
Dadds, M.R., Heard, P.M., & Rapee, R.M. (1991). Anxiety disorders in children. International Review of Psychiatry. 3, 231241.Google Scholar
Dadds, M.R., & Powell, M.B. (1991). The relationship of interparental conflict and marital adjustment to aggression, anxiety and immaturity in aggressive and non-clinic children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 19, 553567.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dadds, M. R., Sanders, M.R., Morrison, M., & Regbetz, M. (1992). Childhood depression and conduct disorder: An analysis of family interaction patterns in the home. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 505513.Google Scholar
Davcy, G.C.L. (1992). Classical conditioning and the acquisition of human fears and phobias: A review and synthesis of the literature. Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 14, 2966.Google Scholar
DeKlyen, M. (1996). Disruptive behavior disorder and intergenerational attachment patterns. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 357365.Google Scholar
Downey, G., & Coyne, J.C. (1990). Children of depressed parents: An integrative review. Psychological Bulletin, 108, 5076.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dumas, J.E., LaFreniere, P.J., & Serketich, W.J. (1995). “Balance of power”: A transactional analysis of control in mother–child dyads involving socially competent, aggressive, and anxious children. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 104, 104113.Google Scholar
Emery, R.E. (1982). Interparental conflict and the children of discord and divorce. Psychological Bulletin, 9, 310330.Google Scholar
Faraone, S., Chen, W., Warburton, R., Beiderman, J., Milberger, S., & Tsuang, M. (1995) Genetic heterogeneity in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Gender, psychiatric comorbidity and maternal ABHD. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 104, 334345.Google Scholar
Fonagy, P., Leigh, T., Steele, M., Steele, H., Kennedy, R., Mattoon, G., Target, M. & Gerber, A. (1996). The relations of attachment status, psychiatric classification, and response to psychotherapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 2231.Google Scholar
Forehand, R., Brody, G., Slotkin, J., Fauber, R., McCombs, A., & Long, N. (1988). Young adolescent and maternal depression: Assessment, interrelations, and predictors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 422426.Google Scholar
Green, S.M., Loeber, R., & Lahey, B.B. (1992). Child psychopathology and deviant family hierarchies. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1, 341350.Google Scholar
Haley, J. (1976). Problem-solving therapy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Harlow, H.F., & Harlow, M. (1962). Social deprivation in monkeys. Scientific American, 207, 136146.Google Scholar
Heard, P.M., Dadds, M. R., & Conrad, P. (1992). Assessment and treatment of simple phobias in children: A clinical study. Behaviour Change, 9, 7382.Google Scholar
Hetherington, E.M., & Martin, B. (1979). Family interaction. In Quay, H.C. & Werry, J.S. (Eds.), Psycho-pathological disorders of childhood (pp. 3082). New York: Wiley.Google Scholar
Holland, P.C. (1994). Event representation in Pavlovian conditioning: Image and action. Cognition, 37, 105131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kagan, J., Reznick, J.S., & Snidman, N. (1988). Biological bases of childhood shyness. Science, 240, 167171.Google Scholar
Kazdin, A.E. (1990). Childhood depression. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 31, 121160.Google Scholar
Kendall, P.C. (1994). Treating anxiety disorders in youth: Results of a randomised clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 100110.Google Scholar
King, N.J., Hamilton, D.J., & Ollendick, T.H. (1988). Children's phobias: A behavioural perspective. Chichester: Wiley.Google Scholar
Kohlmann, C.W., Schumacher, A., & Streit, A. (1988). Trait anxiety and parental child rearing behaviour: Support as a moderator variable. Anxiety Research, 1, 5364.Google Scholar
Krohne, H.W., & Hock, M. (1991). Relationships between restrictive mother-child interactions and anxiety of the child. Anxiety Research, 4, 109124.Google Scholar
Krohne, H.W., & Hock, M. (1993). Coping dispositions, actual anxiety, and the incidental learning of success-and failure-related stimuli. Personality and Individual Differences, 15, 3341.Google Scholar
Lefkowitz, M.M., & Tesiny, E.P. (1985). Depression in children: Prevalence and correlates. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 647656.Google Scholar
Lewinsohn, P.M., Clarke, G.N., Hops, H., & Andrews, J. (1990). Cognitive-behavioural treatment for depressed adolescents. Behaviour Therapy, 21(4), 385401.Google Scholar
Main, M. (1996). Overview of the field of attachment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 237243.Google Scholar
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Mullins, L.L., Siegel, L.J., & Hodges, K. (1985). Cognitive problem solving and life event correlates of depressive symptoms in children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 305314.Google Scholar
Pianta, R.C., Egeland, B., & Adam, E.K. (1996). Adult attachment classification and self reported psychiatric symptomology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 273281.Google Scholar
Puig-Antich, J., Kaufman, J., Ryan, N.D., Williamson, D. E., Dahl, R.E., Lukens, E., Todak, G., Ambrosini, P., Rabinovich, H., & Nelson, B. (1993). The psychosocial functioning and family environment of depressed adolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 32, 244253.Google Scholar
Rosenbaum, J.F., Biederman, J., Hirschfeld, D.R., Bolduc, E.A., & Chaloff, J. (1991). Behavioural inhibition in children: A possible precursor to panic disorder or social phobia. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 52(11), 59.Google Scholar
Rosenhan, D.L., & Seligman, M.E.P. (1984). Abnormal psychology. New York: Norton.Google Scholar
Rosenstein, D.S., & Horowitz, H.A. (1996). Adolescent attachment and psychopathology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 244253.Google Scholar
Sanders, M.R., Dadds, M.R., Johnston, B., & Cash, R. (1992). Child depression and conduct disorder: 1. Behavioural, affective and cognitive aspects of family problem solving. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 496504.Google Scholar
Sines, J.O. (1987). Influence of the home and family environment on childhood dysfunction. In Lahey, B.B. & Kazdin, A.E. (Eds.), Advances in clinical child psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 154). New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Stark, K. (1990). Childhood depression: School based intervention. New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Stark, K.D., Humphrey, L.L., Crook, K., & Lewis, K. (1990). Perceived family environments of depressed and anxious children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18, 527548.Google Scholar
Tarullo, L., DeMulder, E., Martinez, P., & Radke-Yarrow, M. (1994). Dialogues with preadolescents and adolescents: Mother–child interaction patterns in affectively ill and well dyads. Journal of abnormal child psychology, 22(1), 3351.Google Scholar
Thomas, D.L., & Wilcox, J.E. (1987). The rise of family theory: An historical and critical analysis. In Sussman, M.B. & Steinmetz, S.K. (Eds ), Handbook of marriage and the family (pp. 81102). New York: Plenum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Ijzendoorn, M.H., & Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J. (1996). Attachment representations in mothers, fathers, adolescents and children: A meta-analytic search for normative data. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 821.Google Scholar
Weller, R., Kapadia, R., Weller, W., Fristad, R., Lazaroff, L., & Preskorn, S. (1994). Psychopathology in families of children with major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorder, 31, 247252.Google Scholar