Emotion socialization within the family environment and adolescent depression

This review evaluates research addressing the association between parent–child emotional interactions and the development and maintenance of depression in adolescence, with a focus on studies using observational research methods that assess parental responses to children and adolescents' emotional displays. We argue that parental socialization behaviors in response to different emotions expressed by youths may have distinct associations with depressive outcomes. In particular, parental behaviors that reinforce depressive behavior, reciprocate aggression, and fail to positively reinforce positive behavior have each been associated with youth depression. This review identifies a need for more observational research, including prospective, longitudinal studies, to better understand these behaviors, elucidate the directionality of influence between parental socialization behaviors and youth depression, and more clearly identify protective parental socialization behaviors. However, the use of existing findings to inform family-based interventions may improve prevention and treatment efforts directed at youth depression.

► Parental socialization of emotion is associated with adolescent depressive outcomes.
► Socialization patterns with different emotions show different associations with depression.
► Depression is associated with parental reinforcement of sadness and reciprocation of anger.
► Lack of parental reinforcement of positive behavior is also associated with youth depression.