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The association between elevated maternal panic-like and depression symptoms and separation-related interpretive biases in offspring

The association between elevated maternal panic-like and depression symptoms and separation-related interpretive biases in offspring
The association between elevated maternal panic-like and depression symptoms and separation-related interpretive biases in offspring
We explored the association between maternal panic-like and depression symptoms with the offspring’s separation-related interpretive bias in a community sample. Separation anxiety has been found to be a precursor of panic disorders; therefore we focused on children and adolescents’ (aged 7–14 years) interpretive bias tapping into separation concerns using a story-based task. We collected self-reports and maternal reports of the levels of separation anxiety in the offspring. To assess maternal panic-like symptoms, we measured interoceptive and agoraphobic fears; as they have been found to increase the likelihood of experiencing panic disorders. The results showed that elevated levels of maternal interoceptive fears and agoraphobia co-occurring with depression were associated with an interpretive bias that related to separation anxiety concerns in children and adolescents. Offspring whose mothers experienced elevated panic-like symptoms together with depression did not show an interpretive bias linked to generalized anxiety concerns, suggesting the bias is content specific. The clinical significance of these findings stems from giving insight as to what extent separation interpretive biases would be influenced by maternal mental health variables, as these biases could constitute a vulnerability factor for later psychopathology. Further research is merited to address the findings with a longitudinal approach.
separation anxiety, maternal depression, maternal interoceptive fears, maternal agoraphobia, interpretation bias
1062-1024
232-239
Perez-Olivas, Gisela
7694ad71-67ba-426f-87a9-fbbf965c4cf0
Stevenson, Jim
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1
Hadwin, Julie A.
a364caf0-405a-42f3-a04c-4864817393ee
Perez-Olivas, Gisela
7694ad71-67ba-426f-87a9-fbbf965c4cf0
Stevenson, Jim
0c85d29b-d294-43cb-ab8d-75e4737478e1
Hadwin, Julie A.
a364caf0-405a-42f3-a04c-4864817393ee

Perez-Olivas, Gisela, Stevenson, Jim and Hadwin, Julie A. (2011) The association between elevated maternal panic-like and depression symptoms and separation-related interpretive biases in offspring. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20 (2), 232-239. (doi:10.1007/s10826-010-9408-1).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We explored the association between maternal panic-like and depression symptoms with the offspring’s separation-related interpretive bias in a community sample. Separation anxiety has been found to be a precursor of panic disorders; therefore we focused on children and adolescents’ (aged 7–14 years) interpretive bias tapping into separation concerns using a story-based task. We collected self-reports and maternal reports of the levels of separation anxiety in the offspring. To assess maternal panic-like symptoms, we measured interoceptive and agoraphobic fears; as they have been found to increase the likelihood of experiencing panic disorders. The results showed that elevated levels of maternal interoceptive fears and agoraphobia co-occurring with depression were associated with an interpretive bias that related to separation anxiety concerns in children and adolescents. Offspring whose mothers experienced elevated panic-like symptoms together with depression did not show an interpretive bias linked to generalized anxiety concerns, suggesting the bias is content specific. The clinical significance of these findings stems from giving insight as to what extent separation interpretive biases would be influenced by maternal mental health variables, as these biases could constitute a vulnerability factor for later psychopathology. Further research is merited to address the findings with a longitudinal approach.

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More information

Published date: April 2011
Keywords: separation anxiety, maternal depression, maternal interoceptive fears, maternal agoraphobia, interpretation bias

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 179893
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/179893
ISSN: 1062-1024
PURE UUID: 86814da5-f239-498c-aaa8-ac130e955956

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Date deposited: 07 Apr 2011 08:51
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:50

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Contributors

Author: Gisela Perez-Olivas
Author: Jim Stevenson
Author: Julie A. Hadwin

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