Family Influence On Teenage Depression: Research And Potential Impacts
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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.
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 and family influence on teenage depression
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 the teenager’s 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.
Parents of the child are living with depression: Family influence on teenage depression
The children of parents living with depression may be at an increased risk of developing depression themselves.
Genetic factors: Teenager’s family
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 and symptoms of neglect
Family adversity, early childhood losses, and neglect may contribute to depression, particularly as a result of negative family interactions.
Absence of parental support can lead to teen depression
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).
Insecure attachment styles
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.
Mental health therapy for your child: Treatment for symptoms of 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.
Most commonly recommended types of talk therapy for adolescents with depression
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.
Addressing teenage depression: Reaching out to a mental health 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.
Takeaway
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the influence of family cause depression?
Family relationships and family environment can be major factors in the development of depressive symptoms in children and young adults. Poor family functioning can lead to a number of negative outcomes, and studies have found that depression is significantly associated with negative or harsh parenting, and disengaged parenting.
What is the role of the family in the depressed person?
The family can be a major source of comfort and support to depressed adolescents. Family support and positive family functioning can be protective factors in
What type of depression runs in the family?
Major depression, like many other mental health disorders, involves genetic risk factors, as well as environmental ones like negative life events, and biological ones like chronic illness. Those with a family history of anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, or depression may be at greater risk for one of these disorders, and it may develop as anxiety or depressive symptoms depending on the presence of other factors.
What is the role of family dynamics in the mental health of adolescents?
Family conflict can be a major factor in the development of mental health disorders, and can significantly predict adolescent depression and anxiety. A positive parent influence can have the opposite effect, establishing coping skills for life stress. Family therapy, such as family systems therapy, or attachment based family therapy work on healing aspects of the family system and target family risk factors and family stress as part of depression treatment, or to manage behavioral problems. Coping strategies may also be taught to both parents and children.
A cohort study is currently being conducted on Chinese adolescents to get a clearer picture of factors influencing anxiety and depression in teens, as researchers do not believe there have been enough previous studies involving human participants that study depression severity and depression course as they relate to family processes and social support. Researchers further believe that this is an important study as depression in teens and college students can have a negative impact on commercial or financial relationships, and lead to mass loss of revenue. Materials, methods, participants all follow the accepted academic practice of pulling data from seven databases that follow adolescents who have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety and have given written informed consent to participate.
How should a person's family influence his or her mental and emotional health?
Family functioning can either be a protective factor or a risk factor for mental health challenges. For example, a severely depressed parent who is unable to offer emotional support or model positive peer relationships for their child may find that child is more susceptible to developing mental health conditions. Significant differences have also been noticed in reactions to emotional distress, and an increased risk of acute health problems. Family function has been shown to have a particularly important influence on child development.
Why is the oldest child the most depressed?
While not universal, the oldest sibling can be susceptible to what is commonly referred to as “oldest child syndrome”. Family factors such as family size, ages of the parent, family rules, parenting style, and others can contribute. These older children may feel a greater sense of responsibility for others, have perfectionist tendencies and type A personality traits, and be high achievers. Some of these can be risk factors for developing anxiety or depression.
What type of parenting contributes to childhood depression?
Mental health problems like childhood depression have been found to be more prevalent in families where there are a lack of supportive relationships. Child relationships with their primary caregivers can be a strong indicator of behavioral issues, and mental health challenges later in life.
Which child is most likely to develop depression?
There have been some studies suggesting that the oldest sibling may be more susceptible to negative aspects of mental health, but so far there has not been statistically significant research to back this claim. Too many other risk factors may have contributed equally to results, as mental health conditions do not typically develop from one cause alone.
How does depression affect the family?
According to research, parental depression, or depression in primary caregivers can be a significant risk factor in the development of low self-esteem, youth depression, stress-related acute health conditions, negative affect, dysregulated emotions, negative self-cognition, and substance abuse.
Which of the following are warning signs that youth may be struggling?
Signs of potential psychological disorders in children and adolescents include:
- Depressive affect
- Loss of interest in previously preferred activities
- Repetitive behaviors
- Lack of focus
- High risk behaviors
- Irritability
- Weight loss or gain
- Sudden academic changes
- Poor sleep
- Behavioral issues
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