Family Influence On Teenage Depression: Research And Potential Impacts

According to a 2024 analysis of federal surveys of teen health in the US, one in five adolescents report symptoms of depression or anxiety, with 17% of teens stating they had experienced symptoms of depression in the past two weeks. These statistics, along with a declaration of national emergency in child and adolescent mental health in 2021 by the American Academy of Pediatrics, indicate that teenage depression is a serious challenge facing young people in the United States today. Understanding the role of family influence and other factors on teenage depression may be important in understanding and treating this condition. 

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What is teenage depression?

Depression in teens is a serious mental health condition that can affect individuals between the ages of 13 and 17. As a result of their symptoms, teenagers experiencing depression may struggle to complete tasks or function as they normally would, which may create difficulties at school, work, or home. Depression may affect individuals of any age, but it may manifest somewhat differently in teenagers than it does in adults.

This condition may result from a combination of factors, such as hormonal changes, genetic factors, brain biology, and traumatic events. The pressures of adolescence, including stress resulting from social relationships and school, may also contribute to or exacerbate depression symptoms.

Symptoms of depression in teens

Note that depression is more than just occasional sadness or feeling down. Instead, it’s a serious, diagnosable mental health condition that can have serious implications if not properly addressed. Teenage depression symptoms may include things like:

• Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Significantly gaining or losing weight unintentionally 
• Feelings of shame, guilt, or worthlessness
• Sleep disturbances, such as oversleeping or insomnia
• Loss of interest in self-care
• Restlessness and difficulty sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
• Difficulty taking pleasure in previously enjoyed activities
• Irritability, anger, and frustration
• Unexplained pain and body aches
• Social withdrawal
• Increased sensitivity to rejection or exclusion

Certain teens may be at a higher risk for developing depression, including those who have experienced other health conditions, diseases such as diabetes or cancer, or who have a dysfunctional home life. This last factor, along with family dynamics, can play a significant role in the development of depression in teenagers. Supportive family environments, open communication, and early intervention may help to mitigate these risks. 

The impact of family on teenage depression

Research suggests that family life can influence the risk of a teenager developing depression in a variety of ways, including the following.

• The children of parents living with depression may be at an increased risk of developing depression themselves.
• Genetic factors can influence when depression develops in a person who is already at risk. Those in families with a lower density of depression may develop depression later, while those with a greater density may develop it earlier.
• Family adversity, early childhood losses, and neglect may contribute to depression, particularly as a result of negative family interactions.
• Adolescent depression may be associated with the absence of parental support and negative parent-child interactions (such as those characterized by conflict, criticism, and anger).
• There may be a correlation between depressive symptoms and insecure attachment styles. Experiences with inconsistent caregiving, early separation, a lack of bonding, and experiences of adversity in childhood may lead to a greater risk of developing depression. 

Treatment for adolescent depression

For adults, the recommended treatment for depression is usually some form of talk therapy, sometimes in combination with medication. For adolescents, talk therapy is usually the recommended treatment, as the efficacy of antidepressant medications for this age group may be limited. That said, every case is different, so it’s important to talk to your child’s doctor or psychiatrist about their specific situation and especially before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

It’s also worth noting research that suggests that adolescents who regularly engage in healthy habits may be less likely to develop depression, so healthcare providers may recommend such habits for teens with depression in addition to professional treatment. For example, one study suggests that being physically active at least three times per week, using social media and gaming less than three hours per day, not smoking or drinking, frequently eating nutrient-dense foods, and limiting processed foods may all contribute to a lower risk of depression. Habits like these may act as both preventative measures and ways to potentially reduce symptoms.

Some of the most commonly recommended types of talk therapy for adolescents with depression include: 

• Interpersonal therapy (IPT). Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a well-established treatment for adolescents living with depression. In many cases, difficulties in relationships may contribute to depression symptoms. Through IPT, teenagers may learn to change thoughts or behaviors that could be contributing to relationship struggles and their symptoms. 
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is another method that has been widely researched as a psychotherapeutic approach for the treatment of adolescent depression and a variety of other mental health challenges. A cognitive behavioral therapist may help teens identify negative or distorted thought patterns and the associated emotions that could be contributing to their depression symptoms. Once identified, therapists may guide their clients in replacing these thoughts and any related behaviors with positive ones. 

Reaching out to a therapist for support online

Therapy is typically a key component of treatment for depression for people of all ages, but it’s not always possible for a person to attend traditional, in-office sessions regularly. For teenagers in particular, transportation can be an obstacle to seeking in-person care, as can a busy schedule due to school, work, and/or extracurricular activities. In cases like these, it may be beneficial to explore alternatives like online therapy through a platform like TeenCounseling for those ages 13–19 with parental consent, or BetterHelp for adults.

Research suggests that in-person and online therapy may have similar levels of effectiveness in many cases. For instance, in a 2023 study, participants with major depressive disorder received either in-person or online CBT. Findings suggest that both treatments led to significant, comparable improvements in depressive symptoms and quality of life from baseline to post-treatment. In addition, online therapy appeared to have a higher participation rate, as dropouts in the online CBT group completed more sessions on average than individuals in the in-person group.