Parental maltreatment and adulthood cohabiting partnerships: A life-course study of adult chronic depression — 4

Abstract 

Background

This fourth paper of a series of five concerning depression in women considers: i. why parental maltreatment increases risk of highly aversive (‘very poor’) partnerships, and ii. how far these relationships explain the link of such maltreatment with adult chronic depression.

Methods

Data was collected retrospectively by semi-structured interviews and only women living at some point with a partner included.

Results

Parental maltreatment was indirectly linked to chronic depression via highly aversive partnerships. This was partly mediated by childhood conduct problems. However, a broader range of behaviour in late adolescence and early adulthood such as early risky sexual behaviour among those without conduct problems was also involved. In addition parental maltreatment was directly linked to chronic depression, judged by a substantial remaining association when other risk factors were controlled. Highly aversive partnerships were less common by the late 20s while this was matched by an increase of ‘very poor’ circumstances among those no longer living with a partner. This increase often involved lone motherhood, an established risk factor for chronic depression.

Limitations

These findings should be seen as tentative given the retrospective nature of many of the measures (But see the second paper in the present series [Brown, G.W., Craig, T.K.J., Harris, T.O., Handley, R.V., & Harvey, A.L. (2007b). Validity of retrospective measures of early maltreatment and depressive episodes using CECA (Childhood Experience of Care & Abuse) — A life-course study of adult chronic depression — 2. J. Affect. Disord., 103, 217–224]. Only women were studied.

Conclusions

Parental maltreatment relates indirectly to adult chronic episodes of depression with highly aversive partnerships playing an important mediating role. Parental maltreatment also has a direct link. While these results are broadly consistent with earlier research a more complete understanding of the mechanisms acting across the life-course requires an assessment of a wider range of factors around the time of an onset of depression. This is the task of our next and final paper.

Keywords: Childhood maltreatment, Chronic depression, Aversive cohabiting relationships, Lone mothers, Life course of depression, Childhood conduct problems