Examining the Role of Parenting Stress in a Treatment Outcome Study of Depressed Latino Youth

Parents of children with depression report higher levels of parenting stress (Tan & Rey, 2005).  Additionally, previous research has found that parenting stress is associated with poor parent-child interactions and insecure child attachment (Robson, 1997).  Relationships between parents and youth tend to be more dysfunctional, have poorer communication, and have less effective problem solving abilities when youth are experiencing greater internalizing symptoms (Hughes & Gullone, 2008).   There is limited research examining the impact of parenting stress in Latino families, particularly among youth with depression.  The present study will examine changes in parenting stress on parent reported child depressive symptoms in a treatment outcome study for depressed Latino youth. 

The sample for this study consisted of 32 Latino students in grades 5th -8^th living in a Midwestern urban area. Students who met criteria for Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, or who endorsed moderately elevated depressive symptoms participated in a manual-based, video-guided group treatment named ACT & ADAPT (Polo et al., 2004). Data was collected at pre-treatment and immediately following treatment. Students and parents were administered the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC; Shaffer et al., 1996) and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI-SF; Abidin, 1995 ) at pre and post-treatment.

Analyses revealed significant associations between pre-treatment and post-treatment child depressive symptoms (r = 0.64, p < .01), parenting stress and child symptoms at pre (r = .47, p = .01) and post treatment (r = .73, p < .01).  Hierarchical regression analyses revealed a significant predictive relationship between changes in parenting stress and changes in child depressive symptoms (β= .15, t = 5.00, p < .01), controlling for pre-treatment levels of child depressive symptoms.

The Act and Adapt intervention was effective in reducing depressive symptoms pre to post treatment.  Although this intervention did not target parenting stress, it highlights the importance of its association with youth depression.  It is evident that reductions in parenting stress are associated with reductions in youth depressive symptoms.  Thus, integrating a parent component to target parenting stress will enhance treatment outcomes and increase family functioning.  Future research should incorporate a parent component addressing parenting stress in the treatment of depression with Latino youth.