Beyond Perceptions: Meta-Analyses on Observed Parent–Child Interaction Behaviors and Childhood and Adolescent Depression

Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, vol. 29, pp. 535–570

Abstract

A lack of positive and the presence of negative parenting are frequently mentioned as risk factors for the development and maintenance of childhood and adolescent depression. However, meta-analytic research is mostly based on parenting as perceived by the child or parent, with the potential risk of a reporter bias. Also, specific patterns of observed child behavior among children with childhood depression are often overlooked and there currently is no meta-analysis on this topic. The current meta-analyses integrate the cross-sectional and longitudinal relation between observed parenting and childhood depression, and the cross-sectional relation between observed child behavior and childhood depression. This preregistered study (k = 90) includes 350 effect sizes on five observed parenting behaviors and 131 effect sizes on six observed child behaviors in parent-child interactions that were found via PsychINFO, Web of Science, and Proquest Dissertations and Theses (until the end of September 2024). Multilevel meta-analyses show that parental warmth/support and harsh control/criticism co-occur with and precede childhood depression, with small effect sizes, while childhood depression generally did not precede negative parenting. This aligns with previous research based on subjective reports, indicating that low parental warmth and higher criticism may form risk factors for childhood depression. Observed parental autonomy granting, guidance/structure, and parental depressed affect did not relate to childhood depression. Further, children with depression showed more negative affect, reduced autonomy and engagement, illustrating the interactional challenges these families face. Family interventions could validate and address the challenges posed to children as well as parents in families with a child with depression.

Authors 7

1. Wilma G. M. Wentholt corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Psychology, Leiden University Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.g.m.wentholt@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

   Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Leiden University, 2333 AK, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.g.m.wentholt@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.g.m.wentholt@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

2. Marc L. Molendijk corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Psychology, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

3. L J Janssen corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Psychology, Leiden University Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University · Utrecht University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Department of Developmental Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Lisanne A. E. M. van Houtum corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Psychology, Leiden University Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University · Erasmus MC

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam - Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Marieke S. Tollenaar corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Psychology, Leiden University Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands

6. Lenneke R. A. Alink corresponding Aachen Institute of Education and Child Studies

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Education and Child Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

7. Bernet M. Elzinga corresponding Aachen Department of Clinical Psychology Institute of Psychology, Leiden University Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands