Examining the Association between Maternal and Offspring Mental Health Problems

Abstract

The current study investigated if maternal depression or substance use are associated with internalizing or externalizing problems in adolescent offspring. Data for this study was obtained through archival data from families seeking treatment for adolescent mental health problems in New York City. It was hypothesized that maternal depression would be significantly associated with higher levels of internalizing problems among adolescent offspring and maternal substance use would be significantly associated with higher levels of externalizing problems among adolescent offspring. It was also hypothesized that adolescent gender would moderate these relationships, so that girls would have more internalizing problems and boys would have more externalizing problems. There was a significant positive correlation between maternal depression and youth internalizing problems in both males and females. Maternal substance use was found to be positively significantly associated with only externalizing problems in adolescents. These findings can help clinics seek out options to help with adolescent mental health and try to find preventative ways to help adolescents with mothers who suffer from depression or substance abuse. This research can aid in further research on the effects of maternal mental health, specifically on their offspring. Keywords: mental health, depression, substance use, adolescence, internalizing problems, externalizing problems