Common Causes of Trauma
in Children:
Parental Depression
A study by R. C. Kessler that was printed
in the International Review of Psychiatry revealed
that about 13 percent of adults of reproductive age experience
clinical depression each year. He noted that the rates are
even higher for parents who are the primary caretaker, have
children under age 3, have low income, are a minority, are
adolescent parents or have more than one child.
It has been shown that when parents are depressed,
their children are affected and the younger the child is,
the greater the impact will be. Children of depressed parents
run a higher risk of being depressed themselves. They also
run a higher risk of problems with bonding, physical health,
academic performance, peers, self-esteem, attention deficit,
aggressive behavior and language delays. This is also where
we see children who assume the role of the parent.
The following messages should be sent to children
who are in homes with parents exhibiting depression:
