Courtney A Polenick1,2,3,4, Yijung Kim5, Nicole DePasquale6, Kira S Birditt4, Steven H Zarit7, Karen L Fingerman8. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. 2. Program for Positive Aging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. 3. Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. 4. Aging & Biopsychosocial Innovations Program, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. 5. Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125. 6. Division of General Internal Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27701. 7. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. 8. Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX 78712.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the link between midlife children's and older mothers' depressive symptoms, whether this link is exacerbated in highly empathic mother-child relationships (i.e., shared strong feelings of being loved, cared for, and understood in the mother-child tie), and whether these associations vary by children's gender. BACKGROUND: Empathic mother-child relationships in later life may intensify the link between midlife children's and older mothers' depressive symptoms. Yet little is known about the emotional implications of the mother-child tie for midlife daughters and sons. METHOD: The sample included 234 midlife children (M = 49.75 years) and their mothers (M = 75.27 years) from Wave 1 of the Family Exchanges Study. Linear regressions were estimated to determine the link between midlife children's and older mothers' depressive symptoms and the potential moderating role of highly empathic mother-child relationships. RESULTS: Midlife children had greater depressive symptoms when their mothers had greater depressive symptoms in the context of highly empathic mother-child relationships. This association was not moderated by children's gender. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the enduring emotional salience of the mother-child tie and emphasize the importance of relationship characteristics that may heighten the link between midlife children's and their mothers' depressive symptoms. IMPLICATIONS: Interventions to prevent or treat depressive symptoms among midlife adults may benefit from accounting for the role that their mothers' depressive symptoms might play in maintaining these symptoms, particularly when mother-child ties are highly empathic.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the link between midlife children's and older mothers' depressive symptoms, whether this link is exacerbated in highly empathic mother-child relationships (i.e., shared strong feelings of being loved, cared for, and understood in the mother-child tie), and whether these associations vary by children's gender. BACKGROUND: Empathic mother-child relationships in later life may intensify the link between midlife children's and older mothers' depressive symptoms. Yet little is known about the emotional implications of the mother-child tie for midlife daughters and sons. METHOD: The sample included 234 midlife children (M = 49.75 years) and their mothers (M = 75.27 years) from Wave 1 of the Family Exchanges Study. Linear regressions were estimated to determine the link between midlife children's and older mothers' depressive symptoms and the potential moderating role of highly empathic mother-child relationships. RESULTS: Midlife children had greater depressive symptoms when their mothers had greater depressive symptoms in the context of highly empathic mother-child relationships. This association was not moderated by children's gender. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the enduring emotional salience of the mother-child tie and emphasize the importance of relationship characteristics that may heighten the link between midlife children's and their mothers' depressive symptoms. IMPLICATIONS: Interventions to prevent or treat depressive symptoms among midlife adults may benefit from accounting for the role that their mothers' depressive symptoms might play in maintaining these symptoms, particularly when mother-child ties are highly empathic.
Authors: Courtney A Polenick; Nicole DePasquale; David J Eggebeen; Steven H Zarit; Karen L Fingerman Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2018-09-20 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Margaret E Ensminger; Shannon G Hanson; Anne W Riley; Hee-Soon Juon Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 8.829
Authors: T A McAdams; F V Rijsdijk; J M Neiderhiser; J Narusyte; D S Shaw; M N Natsuaki; E L Spotts; J M Ganiban; David Reiss; L D Leve; P Lichtenstein; T C Eley Journal: Psychol Med Date: 2015-05-21 Impact factor: 7.723