Family Cohesion Research Articles

Poverty Reduction and Family Functioning: Results from an Experimental Study in Sub-Saharan Africa

The study tests the effect of poverty-reduction intervention on family functioning reported by AIDS-orphaned children in extended families in Southern Uganda by asking two questions: (1) based on children’s reports, how does poverty reduction intervention affect family functioning? and (2) to what extent do these effects vary by a child’s gender and orphanhood status? Informed by the social causation theory, family stress model, and asset theory, the study aims to address the existing knowledge gap on effects of poverty reduction interventions on family functioning in low-income families caring for AIDS orphaned children in Uganda. We ran multilevel regression models using longitudinal data collected in a cluster-randomized controlled trial from N = 1410 children (n = 621 boys and n = 789 girls) recruited from 48 rural primary schools in Uganda. Survey data was collected every 12 months over the course of 5 years. The average age of children at enrollment was 13 years. We found significant positive effects of the intervention on family cohesion, family communication, and child-caregiver relationship. Effects vary by child’s gender and orphanhood category. Intervention improves family communication for boys, while improving family cohesion and quality of child-caregiver relationship for girls. Single maternal orphans reported improved family communication, while single paternal orphans reported improved child-caregiver relationship. Poverty reduction interventions are important to improve family functioning for low-income families. Variations by child’s gender and orphanhood status have not been reported in previous studies, and our findings underscore the importance of continued research in this area.

The role of family conflict and cohesion in adolescents' social responsibility: Emotion regulation ability as a mediator.

The social context is crucial for the adolescent development of self-regulatory skills and social responsibility. To understand the role of social context in adolescent development, the present study examined family predictors (i.e., family cohesion and conflict) of social responsibility, with emotion regulation ability as a mediating process. A total of 828 Chinese adolescents (35.6% female; mean age = 13.92 years, SD = 1.34) were recruited from major Chinese cities, including Hong Kong and Macau. Path analysis revealed that emotion regulation ability mediated the relation between family factors (i.e., family cohesion and family conflict) and social responsibility. That is, the ability to regulate emotions serves as a process between family factors and social responsibility. More specifically, family cohesion was positively associated with emotion regulation ability, whereas family conflict was negatively associated with emotion regulation ability. In turn, emotion regulation ability was positively associated with social responsibility. The results suggested that the family environment and adolescent's emotion regulation ability are important contextual and intrapersonal factors contributing to their development of social responsibility. As an implication, policymakers and practitioners might allocate resources to enrich positive family interactions and cultivate emotional competency to support adolescents' development of social responsibility.

Виктимность в юношеском возрасте: роль социальных связей и характера отношений в семье и студенческом сообществе

Introduction. Currently, there is an increase in the risks of victimization among representatives of different age and social strata, including young people. The aim of this study was to reveal the role of the quality of students’ relationships with peers and parents in the determination of their victimization. Materials and methods. Russian university students (M=105) took part in the study. The following methods were used: a demographic questionnaire, O.O. Andronnikova's Methods for Studying propensity to Victim Behavior by O.O. Andronnikova, G. Armsden and M. Greenberg's Parent and Peer Attachment Questionnaire, Alvarez's Family Social Capital Questionnaire, Lau and Lee's Student Social Capital Questionnaire. The obtained results indicated the positive role of secure attachment to the mother and to the friend, family cohesion and the negative role of conflicts in the family in the prevention of victimized behavior in adolescence Realised victimhood is more closely related to mother attachment than to father and friend attachment. Communication and cohesion among family members prevent the realisation of victimhood, while conflictual relationships within the family contribute to it. The propensity for aggressive behaviour is determined by the characteristics of attachment to mother, father and close friend; family relationships, attachment to mother and attachment to friend predict the propensity for self-harm; the propensity for dependent and uncritical victimization is determined more by family relationships than by peer relationships. The practical significance of the results is discussed.

Effects of Dignity Therapy for Palliative Care Patients and Family Caregivers: A Systematic Review.

Dignity Therapy (DT) is a psychosocial intervention aimed at alleviating existential distress, enhancing meaning, and improving the overall well-being of palliative care patients and their family caregivers. While individual studies have demonstrated the benefits of DT, a comprehensive evaluation of its impact on key outcomes such as quality of life (QoL), depression, anxiety, and well-being is needed. This study aimed to systematically review the effects of DT on palliative care patients and their family caregivers, focusing on outcomes related to QoL, psychological distress (depression and anxiety), and overall well-being. A systematic review was conducted by searching multiple databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating DT in palliative care. Inclusion criteria were RCTs reporting on QoL, depression, anxiety, well-being, and dignity-related distress. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria. DT demonstrated significant improvements in QoL and well-being among palliative care patients, with reductions in depression and anxiety. Improvements were observed in the physical, psychological, and social domains of QoL. Family caregivers also experienced enhanced spiritual well-being, hope, family cohesion, and adaptability. However, not all outcomes were consistently improved across all studies, indicating variability in DT effectiveness. DT is a promising intervention for enhancing QoL and reducing psychological distress among palliative care patients and their family caregivers. While evidence supports its beneficial impact, further high-quality research is required to confirm these findings and clarify the mechanisms through which DT works. Incorporating DT into palliative care practice is recommended to address the comprehensive needs of patients and their families.

Increasing Transgender Acceptance in Religious Families: A Pilot Study of Manualized Strategic Family Therapy

ABSTRACT This pilot study explores strategies to increase transgender acceptance within religious families by applying a brief, manualized treatment approach. The research uniquely integrates Haley’s Model for Effective Family Therapy with principles of cultural humility to address the specific challenges associated with transgender identity in a conservative Baptist context. Employing a clinical case study approach, this research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the implementation of manualized therapeutic strategies. The study focuses on adapting Haley’s model to enhance family dynamics and promote acceptance while respecting the family’s cultural and religious context. Quantitative data show significant improvements across both the Closeness Scale and the Brief COPE Scale. Family cohesion, overall coping, problem-focused coping, and emotional regulation strategies substantial increased. Qualitative findings further validated these improvements, highlighting enhanced family dynamics and transgender acceptance. These effects were sustained for at least three months post-intervention, indicating lasting positive impacts on family dynamics and coping. This pilot study provides novel contributions by demonstrating how Haley’s Model, adapted with cultural humility, can effectively enhance transgender acceptance within a religiously conservative family system. It underscores the value of culturally respectful and systematic approaches in therapy and highlights the need for further research to explore the long-term effects and broader applicability of these interventions in diverse contexts.

Retrospective analysis of the challenges and highlights of parenting two-year-old children who were subsequently recognised as autistic

Purpose This study retrospectively investigates the parenting experiences of mothers of two-year-old children who expressed concerns that their child may have autism up to when they were 4.5 years old. This study aims to identify early parenting challenges and joys and explore whether certain challenges are associated with a subsequent autism diagnosis. Design/methodology/approach Using a longitudinal design, this study draws from a cohort of 6,853 children, focusing on 103 mothers who reported concerns that their child may have autism when they were between 2 and 4.5 years old, compared to a demographically matched control group. It also tracks whether children initially flagged for autism concerns at 2 to 4.5 years had received a formal diagnosis by age eight. Findings Mothers of autistic children were more likely to mention early challenges with their child’s psychosocial development and family cohesion. However, the nature of the challenges discussed within these categories were similar across the two groups, suggesting that these two challenges, while important, are not definitive indicators of autism on their own. Many mothers highlighted their love and joy in watching their child develop. By age eight, 56% of the children who were flagged with autism concerns at aged 4.5 had an autism diagnosis, underscoring the importance of early concerns. Originality/value This novel research leverages a large, diverse longitudinal cohort to retrospectively explore mothers’ views on raising two-year-old children who were subsequently recognised as being autistic. It uniquely balances the exploration of parenting challenges with the highlights, offering a more holistic view of parenting a child who may later be diagnosed with autism, and considers the link between early parental concerns and challenges and subsequent autism diagnosis.

The influence of positivity and self-efficacy beliefs on family functioning among young adults in Italy and Colombia.

Research suggests that positivity and self-efficacy beliefs may impact adaptive behavior and developmental outcomes, such as social adjustment and subjective wellbeing. The present study explored the effect of positive dimensions (positivity and self-efficacy beliefs) and individual characteristics (gender, type of country, age, and sexual orientation) on family cohesion and flexibility in a group of Colombian and Italian young adults. An online survey was administered to 949 Colombian and 2,073 Italian people aged between 18 and 40 years (M age = 24.3; SDage = 4.5; 67% women). A mediational model was performed to test the influence of positivity on family functioning via the mediational role of self-efficacy beliefs, analyzing the moderated effects of gender, type of country, sexual orientation, and age. Filial self-efficacy mediated the effect of positivity on family functioning, showing stronger paths in men and Colombian participants than in women and Italian counterparts. Regulatory self-efficacy mediated the associations between positivity and family functioning for both genders and types of countries. The results suggest that positivity and self-efficacy beliefs may allow families to engage in more adaptive family functioning across countries and genders. Further research should focus on implications from a cross-national perspective to examine other culture-specific factors that may impact family adjustment.

Family functioning and the implications for adult weight management.

Strong support for family-based interventions in child and adolescent weight management exists. However, family-based interventions have not been as well documented in adult populations. Given that many adults operate within family systems that could influence their weight management behaviors, research is needed to establish possible family-level variables as intervention targets for adult weight loss programs. This study tested the relationship between family functioning (defined as support and bonding), chaos (defined as disorder in the home), and weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity participating in a behavioral weight-loss program. Participants (N = 118; baseline mean body mass index 33.8 ± 3.7; 69.5% female; 97.5% White; 67.8% with a combined annual income of $75k or above; 90.7% completed some college or above) were from a randomized controlled trial examining weight loss ripple effects (Gorin et al., 2018) in individuals assigned to either 6 months of WW (formerly Weight Watchers) or a self-guided approach. Higher family support and bonding at baseline were associated with greater percent weight loss at 6 months. Family support and bonding at baseline were associated with lower chaos in the home at 6 months. However, this was moderated by condition such that this association was significant in the WW but not the self-guided group. Results provide theoretical support that targeting family dynamics may improve weight loss outcomes in behavioral weight loss programs for adults. Future research should test whether family support, bonding, chaos, or other related variables such as family cohesion and adaptability-focused interventions improve weight loss outcomes for adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Neighborhood environments and psychological distress 6-years later: results from the San Diego HCHS/SOL community and surrounding areas study.

The current study examined associations of social and built features of neighborhood environments with psychological distress 6 years later and whether these associations were explained by stress and social factors, among Hispanic/Latino adults from the HCHS/SOL and SOL CASAS Ancillary Study. In the SOL CASAS Ancillary Study, HCHS/SOL San Diego participants' baseline (2008-2011) home addresses were geocoded, neighborhoods were defined using 800m radial buffers, and variables representing neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation, social disorder, walkability, and greenness were created. Psychological distress (anxiety and depression symptoms) and proposed pathway variables chronic stress, social support, and family cohesion were assessed at HCHS/SOL Visit 2 (2014-2017). On average, the population (n = 2785) was 39.47 years old, 53.3% were women, and 92.3% were of Mexican heritage. In complex survey regression analyses that accounted for sociodemographic covariates, the complex sampling design, and sample weights, greater baseline neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation predicted lower family cohesion at Visit 2 (B = -0.99, 95% CI [-1.97, -0.06]). Path models showed indirect associations of baseline neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation with Visit 2 psychological distress through family cohesion (MacKinnon's 95% CI depression [0.001, 0.026]; 3.9% of the variance accounted for; anxiety [0.00071, 0.019] 3.0% of the variance accounted for). Among adults of mostly Mexican heritage from the San Diego, CA area, neighborhood deprivation indirectly predicted later psychological distress through family cohesion. No other effects of neighborhood variables were observed.

Latent profile analysis of family adaptation in breast cancer patients-cross-sectional study

When individuals face life pressure or significant family changes, individuals with better family adaptation can better survive the crisis. Although the influencing factors of family adaptation have been investigated, the application of potential profile analysis has yet to be found. This analytical approach can reveal different potential categories of family adaptation, providing new perspectives for theoretical development and interventions. This study used latent profile analysis to explore family adaptation levels in breast cancer patients and identify different latent categories, examining their characteristic differences. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jinzhou, China, from July 2023 to March 2024. The questionnaire included Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, Benefit Finding Scale (BFS), Dyadic Coping Scale (DCI), Chinese Perceived Stress Scales (PSS), and Family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scales (FACES). Mplus8.3 and SPSS26.0 software were used for data analysis. The latent profile analysis (LPA) method was used to fit the family adaptations of breast cancer patients. Three latent categories of family adaptation were identified: low-level family adaptation (21.5%), medium level family adaptation (47.8%), and high-level family adaptation (30.6%). All 14 items with high levels of family adaptation scored higher than the other two groups. In particular, out of all the categories, item 9, "The idea of educating children is sound," scored highest. Compared with the low-level group, the influential factors of family adaptation in the high-level group were BFS, DCI, PSS, relapse and personal monthly income; The factors influencing family adaptation at the middle level are DCI, BFS, breast cancer type, family history of breast cancer, and personal monthly income. Compared with the medium level group, PSS and DCI were the influential factors of family adaptation in the high-level group. Family adaptation in breast cancer patients can be divided into three categories: low-level, medium-level, and high-level. There were significant differences among different categories of family adaptation levels in “personal monthly income”, “family history of breast cancer”, “type of breast cancer”, “recurrence”, “dyadic coping”, “benefit finding”, and “perception stress”.

Constructing the "Family Personality": Can Family Functioning Be Linked to Parent-Child Interpersonal Neural Synchronization?

Early child development occurs within an interactive environment, initially dominated by parents or caregivers, and is heavily influenced by the dynamics of this social context. The current study probed the neurobiology of "family personality", or family functioning, in the context of parent-child dyadic interaction using a two-person neuroimaging modality. One hundred and five parent-child dyads (child mean age 5 years 4 months) were recruited. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning was employed to measure neural synchrony while dyads completed a mildly stressful interactive task. Family functioning was measured through the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale IV (FACES-IV). Synchrony during stress was significantly greater than synchrony during both baseline and recovery conditions for all dyads. A significant interaction between neural synchrony in each task condition and familial balanced flexibility was found, such that higher levels of balanced flexibility were associated with greater changes in frontal cortex neural synchrony as dyads progressed through the three task conditions. Parent-child dyads from families who display heightened levels of balanced flexibility are also more flexible in their engagement of neural synchrony when shifting between social conditions. This is one of the first studies to utilize a two-person imaging modality to explore the links between family functioning and interbrain synchrony between parents and their children.

Association of Parent and Child Intuitive Eating: A Scoping Review

Children’s eating behaviors are dependent on childhood food experiences, which involve their parental feeding practices, home food environments, and modeling of eating behavior. Intuitive eating (IE) promotes eating based on internal hunger and satiety cues. IE has been associated with improvements in mental and physical health. There has been increasing interest in exploring the association between parent and child IE. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize current literature reporting on parent and child IE associations. Four databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and CINAHL) were searched using keywords focusing on IE, parents, and children. Inclusion criteria were reporting on parental and/or child IE, and reporting on parent–child relationships. After screening, 15 studies were retained. From these, 3 main correlations were described. Parental IE was associated with child feeding, child weight concerns, and the home food environment. As well, environmental factors (i.e., family cohesion, food security) were associated with components of child IE. Moreover, IE was directly correlated between parents and children. Overall, this study highlights how child IE behaviors may be shaped by both parental IE and the broader environments that they are raised within. Additional high-quality studies are required to verify these findings.

Risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation among Saudi adolescents: A network analysis.

Suicide is among the leading cause of death in adolescence and suicidal ideation is its most critical precursor. Suicidal ideation being a complex phenomenon involving multiple factors, this study aimed to use network analysis to depict the interplay of risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation. An online survey was conducted with 614 Saudi adolescents (mean age = 16.16, SD = 1.88, range = 12-18, 61% female). Participants completed instruments to assess suicidal ideation, bullying victimization and perpetration, psychache, family cohesion and adaptability, positive parenting, and multidimensional social support. A psychological network analysis was estimated to determine the most central risk and protective factors for suicidal ideation. As per strength and expected influence centrality, the risk factors that were central were psychache and bullying victimization, and the central protective factors were family cohesion and support from significant other. The network analysis showed that other factors directly connected with suicidal ideation were bullying perpetration, family adaptability, positive parenting, support from family, and support from friends. This network study highlights the importance of addressing both risk and protective factors in an attempt to deal with suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that interventions targeting psychological pain, bullying, and family bonds may be crucial in the treatment and prevention of suicidal ideation among adolescents.

Exploring the relationship between child temperament, maternal psychiatric symptoms, family environment and infant feeding.

Infant temperament is assumed to be primarily innate. However, newer research suggests that maternal affection impacts ratings of temperament and environmental factors, including feeding method, can also influence infant temperament. This study investigates child temperament and its relationships with maternal psychiatric symptoms, environmental variables and feeding method longitudinally in a cohort of children followed from 6 to 72 months. Differences in temperament by feeding group are also investigated. We hypothesized that maternal psychiatric symptoms, environmental stressors, and impaired family dynamics would have negative impact on child temperament, whereas breastfeeding would have a positive impact on child temperament. Mothers' ratings of child's temperament, own psychiatric symptomatology, environmental stresses and family cohesion were obtained in 504 mother-infant dyads via rating scales completed by mothers. Infants were breastfeed (BF), fed soy-based infant formula (SF) or dairy-based infant formula (MF). Linear mixed effect models investigated the relationship of variables on child's temperament while controlling for significant covariates and repeated measurements. Mothers in this study did not endorse clinical-level psychiatric symptomatology; however, when adjusted for significant covariates, higher psychiatric symptomatology significantly correlated with environmental stressors, impaired family dynamics and elevations in temperament ratings of infants' adaptability and mood. There were no lasting differences for temperament between feeding groups. However, some significant transient increases in rhythmicity and adaptability were found between SF and BF children. Positive relationships between family environment stressors and maternal psychiatric ratings were found. Transient differences were found in child temperament based upon feeding method.

The role of resilience in the association between stressful life events and academic performance in university students

Although there is evidence of the relationship between stress and academic performance, the possible moderating role of resilience in this association has been investigated to a lesser extent. This study aimed to evaluate the role of resilience in the relationship between stressful life events and academic performance in undergraduate university students. The Life Events Questionnaire and the Adult Resilience Scale were administered to 389 undergraduates aged 18-29. Regressions were performed. Results showed that life event stress predicted low academic performance, while resilience predicted better academic performance and lower life event stress. Two resilience factors moderated the impact of stressful life events on academic performance: family cohesion and social support. Correlation and variance values were low but significant. The results suggest that university programs could improve academic performance by promoting greater student resilience and strengthening other significant factors.

How can the Social Family Climate Contribute to Emotional Intelligence in Preventing Suicidal Ideation and Promoting Life Satisfaction Among Adolescents?

While findings have documented the association between emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, and suicidal ideation among adolescents, few studies have investigated the moderating effect of family climate on the association. This study examined the moderating effect of family cohesion, expressiveness, and conflict on the relationships between emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, and suicidal ideation among Spanish adolescents. A total of 2,722 adolescents aged 12 to 18 (Mage = 14.11, SD = 1.42, 52.8% girls) formed the sample. The interaction effects were significant, with family conflict mitigating the effects of emotional intelligence on life satisfaction, and family cohesion and expressiveness strengthening the effects of emotional intelligence on suicidal ideation. These findings provide additional evidence for the protective role of family cohesion and expressiveness in adolescent suicidal ideation, and the harmful role of family conflict in adolescent wellbeing. The results imply that enhancing family cohesion and expressiveness and reducing family conflict may be a promising way to boost the link between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction and to prevent suicidal ideation among adolescents.

Family Social Work Interventions Model To Promote Family Cohesion Among The Users Of Social Media In Uasin-Gishu County, Kenya

In the rapidly evolving digital age, social media has become an integral part of daily life, significantly influencing family dynamics and cohesion. This study explored the impact of social media on family cohesion and examined possible family social work intervention models to promote family unity among users in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. Utilizing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, the research gathered quantitative data through surveys of 400 respondents and qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings revealed that 72.1% of participants supported the establishment of clear boundaries and rules around social media use to enhance family cohesion, with a mean score of 3.84. Additionally, 70.3% agreed that regular family activities strengthened family bonds, while 68.8% acknowledged the positive impact of family therapy on communication within social media-using families. The study also found strong support for educational initiatives on healthy social media use, with 71.3% of respondents endorsing their effectiveness. Hypothesis testing confirmed a significant relationship between family social work interventions and improved family cohesion, evidenced by a Pearson correlation coefficient of .648 and a significant chi-square result (p < .001). The study concludes that structured social work interventions, such as setting boundaries, promoting family activities, and providing education, are crucial in maintaining family cohesion in the context of increasing social media usage. These findings offer valuable insights for social work practitioners, policymakers, and families seeking to balance digital engagement with family unity

Reciprocal prospective effects among parental psychological distress, family cohesion, and child socioemotional behavior within families.

This study explores the dyadic longitudinal interplay among parents' psychological distress, family cohesion, children's internalizing/externalizing behaviors, and peer-related social competence within individual and dyadic relationships. Data came from a nationally representative longitudinal cohort study of children in South Korea. The analyses included 1,779 families across three annual timepoints. Children were 4 years old (48.6% girls) and the mean ages of mothers and fathers were 34.8 and 37.3 years, respectively, at baseline. At each assessment point, mothers completed questionnaires regarding their psychological distress, cohesion, and their child's internalizing/externalizing behaviors, while fathers provided information on their psychological distress and family cohesion. Preschool teachers also evaluated children's peer social competence at each measurement timepoint. The results revealed bidirectional associations between maternal ratings of psychological distress and children's internalizing/externalizing behaviors as well as between maternal ratings of cohesion and children's internalizing/externalizing behaviors. Paternal ratings of psychological distress were longitudinally related to maternal ratings of children's internalizing behaviors. Teacher ratings of children's peer social competence were associated with maternal ratings of internalizing/externalizing behaviors and paternal ratings of psychological distress and cohesion. Teacher ratings of peer social competence and maternal ratings of internalizing and externalizing behaviors were reciprocally associated. Maternal and paternal ratings of psychological distress and cohesion were prospectively and bidirectionally associated. The findings demonstrate prospective transactions among family subsystems, some of which were moderated by child sex, while highlighting the importance of obtaining data on each family member and considering interactive effects of both parent and child sex in this line of inquiry. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The Impact of Family Functioning on Self-Esteem and Resilience Among Young Adults in the Southern Region of Bangladesh

Family functioning, such as family adaptability and family cohesion, is a crucial component of every individual’s life, can influence his/her self-esteem and resilience, acting as protective factors in the environment. The present study examined the impact of family functioning on self-esteem and resilience among university students in the southern region of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 400 students from four different universities situated at Gopalganj, Khulna, Barisal, and Jessore. Bangla version of Resilience Scale for Adults, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale II, and Personal Information Form were used for data collection. Independent sample ‘t’ test revealed significant gender differences in family functioning; Pearson’s correlation coefficient showed significant positive relationship among family functioning, self-esteem and resilience; regression analysis showed both self-esteem and resilience can be predicted by family functioning. The results can inform efforts to strengthen family relationships and enhance communication within families. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 33(2): 87-95, 2024 (July)

The mediating role of family functioning between childhood trauma and depression severity in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder

BackgroundChildhood trauma (CT) and family functioning exert significant influences on the course and long-term outcome of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients. Hence, we examined the intricate relationship between CT, family function, and the severity of depressive episodes in MDD and BD patients. Methods562 patients with depressive episodes (336 MDD and 226 BD) and 204 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this retrospective study. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES II-CV) were assessed. Pearson correlation analysis and mediation analysis were performed. ResultsCT had both a direct and indirect impact on depression severity in MDD and BD groups. In MDD, family adaptability mediated the impact of all CT subtypes on depression severity (Effect = 0.113, [0.030, 0.208]). In BD, family cohesion played a mediating role between emotional neglect (EN) and HAMD-17 scores (Effect = 0.169, [0.008, 0.344]). Notable differences were observed in onset age, illness duration, episode frequency, family history, and CT subtypes between MDD and BD (P < 0.05). LimitationsThis study has several limitations including recall bias, lack of objective family functioning measures, small sample size, and cross-sectional design. ConclusionsFamily functioning mediated the impact of CT on depressive symptoms severity in MDD and BD patients. MDD patients with a history of CT exhibited reduced family adaptability, while BD patients with a history of EN had weaker familial emotional bonds. Our findings highlighted the importance of family-focused preventive interventions in mitigating the long-term effects of CT.