Association Between Parental Separation, Childhood Trauma, Neuroticism, and Depression: a Case Control Study

Overview

Journal Front Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2023 May 25

PMID 37229385

Authors

Simon Sanwald

Christian Montag

Markus Kiefer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Parental separation has been suggested to be associated with depression development in offspring. The new family constellation subsequent to separation could be associated with elevated scores of childhood trauma, shaping more emotionally instable personalities. This could ultimately be a risk factor for mood disorders and particularly the development of depression in life.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, we investigated the associations between parental separation, childhood trauma (CTQ) and personality (NEO-FFI) in a sample of = 119 patients diagnosed with depression and = 119 age and sex matched healthy controls.

Results: While parental separation was associated with elevated scores of childhood trauma, there was no association between parental separation and Neuroticism. Furthermore, in a logistic regression analysis, Neuroticism and childhood trauma were found to be significant predictors for depression diagnosis (yes/no), but not parental separation (yes/no).

Conclusion: Parental separation might be associated with depression only indirectly childhood trauma. Childhood trauma or Neuroticism seem more directly related to the development of depression. However, it is worthwhile to install prevention programs helping parents and children to cope with parental separation in order to minimize the impact of separation and associated stressors.

Citing Articles

The association between borderline personality disorder, childhood trauma, neuroticism, and self-rated or clinician-rated functional impairment in euthymic bipolar disorder-1 patients.

Aydin E, Koca Lacin T Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1444583.

PMID: 39450306 PMC: 11499097. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1444583.

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