Association between family structure in childhood and lifetime depressive disorder in adulthood among a nationally representative sample of Blacks

Abstract

Objective This study investigated whether there were associations between family structure in childhood and lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder in adulthood in a representative national sample of 4918 Blacks in the United States. We explored whether the associations between family structure and depressive disorder differed based on four types of family structure: (1) the presence of both biological parents; (2) one biological parent and a nonbiological parent; (3) one biological parent and (4) neither biological parent. Method The data used were from the National Survey of American Life. Results In the adjusted analysis, among all respondents, higher odds of major depressive disorder in adulthood were associated with growing up with one biological parent and a nonbiological parent compared to those who grew up with both biological parents. In the analysis stratified by gender, only women who lived with one biological parent and a nonbiological parent during childhood had an increased risk of depressive disorder in adulthood. Conclusions Growing up in a household with one biological parent and a nonbiological parent was positively associated with depressive disorder in adulthood among Black women. Future studies should continue to explore the pathways linking family structure in childhood to the long-term consequences of depressive disorder.