|
8 February 2006
Parenthood A Depressing Business 
Researchers from Florida State University (FSU) and Vanderbilt University have found that parents have significantly higher levels of depression than adults who do not have children. And it seems that the symptoms of depression do not go away when the kids grow up and move out of home. This was one of the most surprising findings of the study, according to the researchers, who theorize that parents are still involved in their adult children's lives and continue to be concerned and emotionally involved with them. "Parents have more to worry about than other people do - that's the bottom line," said FSU professor Robin Simon. "And that worry does not diminish over time. Parents worry about their kids' emotional, social, physical and economic well-being. We worry about how they're getting along in the world." The study, published in the American Sociological Association's Journal of Health and Social Behavior, also found that there is no type of parent that reports less depression than non-parents. Additionally, certain types of parents have higher levels of depression than other parents. Parents of adult children, whether they live at home or not, and parents who do not have custody of their young children have more symptoms of depression. Paradoxically, parents living with their young children, whether they are biological, adopted or stepchildren, have the least symptoms of depression - a finding that contradicts the assumption that these parents have the most distress. "Young children in some ways are emotionally easier," Simon said. "Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems."
The researchers were shocked to find that the effects of parenthood on depression were the same for men and women. These findings are in disagreement with earlier studies and with the common belief that parenthood is more impacting on the emotional well-being of women. The researchers believe that part of the overall problem may be the way modern parenting is conducted. "It's how we do parenting in this society," Simon said. "We do it in a very isolated way and the onus is on us as individuals to get it right. Our successes are our own, but so are our failures. It's emotionally draining. This is a really difficult role, but we romanticize it in American culture. Parenthood is not the way it is in TV commercials." Source: Florida State University
|
