Intergenerational transmission of interiorized disorders: theoretical models and empirical research

It is well recognised that mental health disorders in parents are associated with internalizing disorders in their children. For better understanding of the nature of this association, this article presents a critical analysis of 5 theoretical models and of major findings from empirical studies conducted on this question in the past 15 years. Several psychosocial characteristics are found to be more frequent in families of depressed or anxious parents and are associated to a higher prevalence of internalizing disorders in their children. Two hypotheses are drawn from these findings : (a) The presence of internalizing disorders in a parent may contribute to the emergence of other at-risk conditions associated with internalizing disorders in children; and (b) the presence of some psychosocial characteristics may exacerbate the influence of being exposed to parental anxiety or depression.