ABSTRACT
It is well-established that having a parent who suffers from depression places children at higher risk for developing depression, themselves. Children with a clinically depressed parent are six times more likely than other children to develop major depression (Downey & Coyne, 1990). Furthermore, such children are at higher risk for problems in self-control, aggression, poor peer relationships, behavioral problems, academic difficulties, and attentional problems (Coghill, Caplan, Alexandra, Robson, & Kumar, 1986; Downey & Walker, 1992; Erickson, Sroufe, & Egeland, 1985; Ghodsian, Zajicek, & Wolkind, 1984; Grunebaum, Cohler, Kaufman, & Gallant, 1978; Orvaschel, Welsh-Allis, & Weijai, 1988; Panak & Garber, 1992; Redding, Harmon, & Morgan, 1990). A number of family risk factors associated with parental depression have been identified, including course and severity of parental depression, exposure to parental depression, marital conflict, maltreatment, and adverse living conditions (Downey & Walker, 1992). Child risk factors include early developmental difficulties, gender, age, low self-esteem, aggressive behavior, perceived rejection, and social-cognitive deficits (Downey & Walker, 1992; Hammon, 1988; Panak & Garber, 1992).
