Impact of Growing Up with a Parent with Severe Mental Illness on Adult Mental Health
Adults who grew up with a parent experiencing severe mental illness have significantly increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, suicidality, substance abuse disorders, and general medical morbidity and mortality. 1
Psychological Impacts on Adults
Growing up with a parent with severe mental illness creates substantial psychological challenges that persist into adulthood:
Increased risk of psychopathology: Adults who had childhood mental disorders have 6 times higher odds of adverse adult outcomes in health, legal, financial, or social functioning compared to those without childhood disorders 2
Traumatic childhood experiences: Many adults report experiencing neglect and abuse during childhood, which transitions into survival mechanisms in adulthood 3
Trust and relationship difficulties: Adults often develop trust issues stemming from an inherent tendency to rely solely on themselves, leading to feelings of loneliness and being burdensome 3
Difficulty seeking help: These adults frequently struggle to reach out for help or treatment as they don't want to appear dysfunctional or in need 3
Intergenerational Patterns and Risk Factors
The impact of parental mental illness extends across generations:
Early life adversity: Exposure to adverse parental attributes (e.g., poor mental health), low socioeconomic position, and adverse family structure predicts poor psychological health in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood 2
Neurobiological effects: Lack of safe or nurturing relationships in childhood affects structural and functional development of the brain, increasing the likelihood of developing maladaptive habits and less supportive relationships 2
Stigma and concealment: In many communities, families attempt to conceal mental illness from outsiders, which has negative effects on children 4
Protective Factors and Resilience
Despite these challenges, several factors can promote resilience:
Supportive relationships: Positive parenting practices (warmth, nurturing), ease of communication with parents, supportive school environments, and strong social networks can promote psychological well-being 2
Perceived control and self-efficacy: Adults who develop perceived control achieve personal growth, self-care, and care for others, which helps them further their social status and strengthen family bonds 3
Early recognition and intervention: Early recognition and treatment of parental depression can mitigate negative effects on child health and development 2
Clinical Implications
Healthcare professionals should consider the following approaches:
Comprehensive assessment: Healthcare providers should conduct thorough assessments of adults who grew up with parents with serious mental illness to identify specific needs and difficulties 3
Family-centered care: Mental healthcare professionals need to consider the needs of children who have parents experiencing mental illness, not just focus on the parent with mental illness 4
Improving mental health literacy: Support relatives with improving their mental health literacy and confidence in communicating about mental health 5
Screening for parental mental health issues: Pediatric settings can be ideal for identifying parental depression and linking families to support, especially since many parents with mental health issues lack regular healthcare 2
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
Overlooking subclinical symptoms: Even subthreshold psychiatric symptoms during childhood can lead to 3 times higher odds of adverse outcomes in adulthood 2
Focusing only on the diagnosed parent: Healthcare providers often neglect the needs of children in families affected by mental illness 4
Assuming resilience without support: While some individuals develop resilience, this should not replace appropriate intervention and support 3
Ignoring physical health outcomes: Beyond mental health issues, these adults also face increased risk of general medical morbidity and mortality 1
The long-term effects of growing up with a parent with severe mental illness require healthcare professionals to implement targeted interventions that address specific needs across different developmental stages to promote better outcomes and quality of life.