Yuanyuan Li1, Xuliang Shi2, Larkin S McReynolds3, Huilan Tang3, Huilin Chen4, Tong Wang1, Yuechu Zhang1, Fulei Geng1, Fang Fan5, C W Hoven3. 1. School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China. 2. College of education, Hebei University, Baoding, China. 3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, Somerset, UK. 5. School of Psychology, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, and Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science of Guangdong Province, South China Normal University, Shipai Road, Guangdong 510631, China. Electronic address: fangfan@scnu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The association between parent-child depression following disasters has been well documented. However, longitudinal studies of posttraumatic depression using parent-child dyadic are scarce. This study aimed to investigate inter-related effects between parent and child depression, as well as predictors of depressive symptoms, in a large sample of Wenchuan earthquake survivors. METHODS: Data are from the Wenchuan Earthquake Adolescent Health Cohort (WEAHC) Study that included 685 parent-child dyads exposed to the earthquake. Depression was assessed with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (for parents) and Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, at 12 (T12m) and 18 months (T18m) post-earthquake. Longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were employed to examine depression within dyads. Predictors of depressive symptoms were assessed by the cart algorithm throughout the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Adjusting for earthquake exposure and previous depressive symptoms, parents' depression at 12 months predicted children's depressive symptoms at 18 months, and vice versa (β = 0.14 for parents and β = 0.12 for children). Psychomotor retardation in parents, and dysphoria/social isolation and positive affect in children were identified as crucial screening indicators identifying parents and children at increased risk for depression. CONCLUSION: A bidirectional association was found between parent and child depression following a mass disaster. Both parent and child depression status should be examined when implementing interventions to identify and treat depression in earthquake survivors.
BACKGROUND: The association between parent-childdepression following disasters has been well documented. However, longitudinal studies of posttraumatic depression using parent-child dyadic are scarce. This study aimed to investigate inter-related effects between parent and childdepression, as well as predictors of depressive symptoms, in a large sample of Wenchuan earthquake survivors. METHODS: Data are from the Wenchuan Earthquake Adolescent Health Cohort (WEAHC) Study that included 685 parent-child dyads exposed to the earthquake. Depression was assessed with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (for parents) and Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children, at 12 (T12m) and 18 months (T18m) post-earthquake. Longitudinal actor-partner interdependence models (APIMs) were employed to examine depression within dyads. Predictors of depressive symptoms were assessed by the cart algorithm throughout the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Adjusting for earthquake exposure and previous depressive symptoms, parents' depression at 12 months predicted children's depressive symptoms at 18 months, and vice versa (β = 0.14 for parents and β = 0.12 for children). Psychomotor retardation in parents, and dysphoria/social isolation and positive affect in children were identified as crucial screening indicators identifying parents and children at increased risk for depression. CONCLUSION: A bidirectional association was found between parent and childdepression following a mass disaster. Both parent and childdepression status should be examined when implementing interventions to identify and treat depression in earthquake survivors.