Parenting in Context: Associations of Parental Depression and Socioeconomic Factors with Parenting Behaviors

ObjectiveThe current study examined the unique and combined associations of parental depression and socioeconomic disadvantage with parenting behaviors in parents with a history of depression.MethodA sample of 180 parents with a history of major depressive disorder and one of their children (ages 9-15 years old) completed a videorecorded conversation task and parents completed self-report measures of depression symptoms and socioeconomic variables (parental education, income, marital status).ResultsParental depression symptoms and socioeconomic variables were related to higher levels of harsh and withdrawn parenting in univariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, socioeconomic factors were significant predictors of both types of disrupted parenting. However, while parental depression symptoms remained a significant predictor of withdrawn parenting, they no longer significantly predicted harsh parenting when socioeconomic factors were included in multivariate analyses.ConclusionsResults highlight the importance of considering the economic context of families, particularly the impact of socioeconomic disadvantage on parenting behaviors in a sample of depressed parents.