Stress Generation in Intact Community Families: Depressive Symptoms, Perceived Family Relationship Stress, and Implications for Adolescent Adjustment

Abstract

The family stress generation process was examined, as was the role of family stress generation in adolescent adjustment. Participants were mothers ( n = 119), fathers ( n = 96), and adolescents ( n = 119) from intact, community families. Assessments were conducted at two points during adolescence, separated by one year. Mother's initial depressive symptoms generated perceived stress in both her marital and mother-adolescent relationship a year later. In turn, mother-reported family relationship stress exacerbated her depressive symptoms. Mother-reported family stress generation contributed to higher levels of depressive symptoms in both adolescent girls and boys. Although no evidence of a family stress generation process for fathers was found, father-reported family relationship stress was associated with greater adolescent depressive symptoms.