Mother's Depression Affects Her Child's ADHD
Monday March 26, 2007
According to a study out of the University of Maryland, a mother's depression may be a risk factor for behavior problems in children with ADHD.
Children with ADHD are at risk for substance abuse and criminal behaviors if they develop conduct disorders. Not much is known, however, about what risk factors might predict the children who develop behavior problems.
The study looked at parental psychopathology and parenting. What they found was that positive parenting during the preschool years was associated with fewer behavioral problems in early adolescence. Maternal depression, however, was determined to be a possible risk factor.
The study appeared in the January issue of Developmental Psychology
That’s it. Go ahead and give women more guilt-trips. As if being depressed isn’t enough, let “MUSC” tell us that we are rotten mothers. Back off and leave us alone.
Here we go again. Mom is to blame. Just put a scarlet P on my bodice and send me to eternal parenting classes.
Gee, could it be that the mom AND kids fall on the bipolar spectrum and that is the source of the problem? Did the study compare Moms with depression that was managed or ADHD kids who were also being treated successfully for mood disorders? Are we still in the dark ages, is schizophrenia still caused by bad mothering…what about global warming…let’s blame that on the moms too.
So since I have depression and my kid has ADHD, now that is my fault as well? I thought genetics had a play in this but guess I am not the brain surgeon. Did they happen to add into their study traumas a child could have faced that could also lead to those behavioral issues? It has also come down to every bad kid has ADHD, every school needs these kids labeled. Its run amuck! I am guessing this article was written by s single man with no kids.
Gee, I thought being a Mom was something special, apparently I was misled, it is just a title to blame for everything!
It makes sense, really. If I’m down, my kids pick up on it. They both have ADHD and it has indeed affected their school worke, sibling rivalry and other behaviors. Normally I suffer from depression prior to my period, and this is where I have noticed it. Doesn’t make me a bad mother nor make the kids at risk. But if there are mothers who are depressed alot of the time, it might be good to see at least a psycho or hypno therapist. I don’t believe in drugs especially antidepressants but Psycho Therapists can uncover the “onion layers” and get to the bottom of depression and Hypno Therapists can potentially rid a person of their depression, depending on if they are receptive or not. As to those who suffer from depression from other factors, I don’t know the answer to that but I am interested enough to look into it as I personally know other mothers who are depressed and some on a daily basis. JM2C xo
This seems pretty logical to me. ADHD kids need extra assistance in many of the areas that people with depression find difficult to do themselves. Really, how effective will I be at assisting my ADHD kid with setting goals, staying focused, maintaining a positive attitude, handling emotions, coping with daily problems, and organizing, keeping track and completing tasks. All of these things are very hard for me and most people that suffer from depression. I have chronic, resistant depression and I’ve taken medication for almost 15 years. I know that when I’m feeling really bad, and all I want to do is lay in bed, it’s very hard to maintain the kind of support that ADHD kids need.
And for those that think this is mom-bashing, this probably is based on who is the primary care giver. I would guess that if stay at home or single dads were included in the study, the finding would be the same. I agree that the study should have compared Moms with depression that was managed or ADHD kids who were being treated successfully for mood disorders. However, there is a difference between a person who does not suffer from depression, and a person who is “managing” their depression.
I understand the feeling of being a “bad mom” for passing my genetic curse onto my children. Though I was aware of my depression all my life, it has become who I am. Plus, I was in a teen marriage with an abusive husband when I got pregnant. So I didn’t even think about it affecting my kids until I was diagnosed a few years ago & started doing research & recognizing the same symptoms in the boys at the same age I first remember those emotions. I agree with Marie’s statement & find it very well thought. I’ve been on the “suffering” end of depression (BDII, GAD, SAD, Social Anxiety, OCD, ADHD, Chronic Pain etc) since early childhood. I have been taking an endless, ever-evolving, combination of medication for 3.5 – 4 years now; since my initial/proper diagnoses. My children have been receiving treatment since age 5 & are 10 now. They used to attend group therapy (which was more fun-n’-games to them than anything else) but I think that it’s time for them to see a therapist individually to work on their own personal emotional set-backs; physical/verbal abuse, depression/ADHD, a less-than-desirable mother with her own issues, lack of proper parental attention (I don’t allow them contact with their biological father but my dad has stepped in as their own father & they mutually love one another that way. They’re lucky to have my dad for their own.) … There are a lot of contributing factors here. I can’t even take care of my mind or our tiny apartment! I apologize to them because the house is so messy & these 10-year-old boys try to comfort & reassure me I’m “not a bad mom”. I don’t necessarily agree; my parents have to help me with nearly everything. My twins are not only fraternal but are at two different ends of the spectrum in all aspects. “Twin A” is depressive (known to have suicidal feelings occasionally), sensitive, sometimes compassionate, has a temper, & likes to agitate “twin B” who tattles non-stop, bounces from wall-to-wall & mood-to-mood & just plain WON’T SHUT UP because of ADHD. I’ve got the same problem though, as you can see by my typing. I’m seeing some newer, stronger mood-swings in “twin B”. Not sure if its the meds wearing off, new mental illness(es) surfacing, or just being a “tween” … or all of the above. I know, moodiness & fighting are part of any preteen boy’s (or girl’s) behavior. It’s scary, honestly. He seem more Bipolar day-by-day. There are times where I have to plain tell him to SHUT UP or not to talk to me. He can’t control it, it’s not his fault. I know it’s not nice, but I’d rather that then blow up on them royally. So much is going on in my own head & in my personal life … I completely lost track of where I was taking this comment. It’s almost like an invasion of privacy when the kids are fighting/tattling and interrupt my thinking process. I’ve always been in my own little world, even as a child, & nobody, NOBODY, is granted entry; not even the ones I love. However, I do talk openly & honestly about all things, including illegal drugs/alcohol (they just finished D.A.R.E. at school & I found they weren’t taught about most illicit drugs common now, which angered me a little), sex, medication, mental illnesses … because I want to know they’re getting information from a reliable source & want their eyes opened to life’s dangers, which are harder to resist/cope with when you’ve got BD/ADHD. Believe me, I love my children, but it’s hard to show them since I don’t really love/value myself much. But, I do love them & want to be sure they get treatment available to them; which wasn’t there for us kids of the 80’s. Maybe their lives will be more normal, happy, healthy, fulfilling, meaningful … than mine. So, to therapy we will go!