Coping and emotional regulation in children of depressed mothers

Authors

  • Juliana Lopes Universidade de São Paulo
  • Sonia Regina Loureiro Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v11i2.6807

Keywords:

coping, life events, maternal depression, emotional regulation

Abstract

The current study was designed to compare negative life events, as well as coping and emotional regulation strategies among children whose mothers had depression to those whose mothers had no psychiatric history. Forty children (boys and girls), ranging in age from 7 to 12 years with at least average levels of intellectual abilties participated in the study. Children were divided into two groups: G1-Maternal depression; and G2-no psychiatric history. Individual evaluations were made using Raven and the Negative Life Events Interview. Interviews were transcribed and coping and emotional regulation strategies were classified by two independent raters (agreement of 0.81 and 0.89, respectively), based on previously determined categories. The data were compared using a Mann- Whitney U test (p≤0.05). No differences were found between the groups regarding events and coping toward stressors related with diseases and accidents. Greater use of passive waiting as an emotional regulation strategy towards everyday events was observed in G1. Data analysis showed that the groups were similar in terms of life experiences. In addition, children whose mothers were depressed used an adaptive effort strategy to cope with stressors brought about by negative life events.

Keywords: coping; life events; maternal depression; emotional regulation.

 

Author Biographies

Juliana Lopes, Universidade de São Paulo

Departamento de Psicologia e Educação da Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto – USP.

Sonia Regina Loureiro, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP

Departamento De Neurologia, Psiquiatria e Psicologia Médica da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto – USP.

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How to Cite

Lopes, J., & Loureiro, S. R. (2007). Coping and emotional regulation in children of depressed mothers. Interação Em Psicologia, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v11i2.6807

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2007)

Section

Articles

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