Emotionele Stabiliteit van Moeder en een Depressie bij Adolescenten: De Rol van Sekse

Abstract

Due to the fact that depression is a common problem worldwide, it is important to research the risk factors for developing a depression as an adolescent. The ecological model indicates that the development of a child is influenced by the constant interaction between a child's characteristics and the environment in which a child grows up. Parents’ personality influences an adolescents’ behaviour both directly and indirectly. Parents’ personality is therefore seen as a possible risk factor. However, limited research has been carried out into the personality characteristics of emotional stability of mothers and depression on adolescents. This study examines the relation between mother’s emotional stability and depression in adolescents’ and if gender plays a role in this relationship. The research is part of the five-year longitudinal research project, CONflicts And Management Of RElationships (CONAMORE). The research sample consisted of 310 adolescents between the age of 15 to 18 years old and 310 mothers. These participants were recruited via twelve secondary schools in the province of Utrecht. Depression on adolescents was measured by the self-report questionnaire Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI) and emotional stability of mothers was measured by the Transparent Bipolar Inventory (TBI). These questionnaires were filled out during home visits. The results of the research indicate a positive relation between mother’s emotional instability and the development of a depression on adolescents. Gender does not play a role in this relationship.