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Family Functioning and Psychological Health of Children with Mentally Ill Parents

Author

Listed:
  • Silke Wiegand-Grefe

    (Clinic for Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Marlit Sell

    (Clinic for Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Bonnie Filter

    (Clinic for Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Angela Plass-Christl

    (Clinic for Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

Parental mental illness can be linked to reduced family functioning, which is associated with more conflicts, less adaptability and cohesion as well as a disorganized pattern of everyday planning. Concurrently, family functioning is an important moderator for the influence of parental mental disorders on the development of the children. Consequently, the current study addresses the correlation of family functioning in families with mentally ill parents and the psychological health of the children. The sample consists of 67 mentally ill parents. Both parents and therapists completed questionnaires related to family functioning and the psychological health of the children. Family functioning was rated as dysfunctional in 38% of the families. The psychological health of the children was classified as clinical or subclinical in 43% of the cases. 52% of the children were rated to have no psychological problems. In families with good family functioning, children were assessed to have less psychological problems than in families with poor functioning. Children outside the clinical range lived in families with good family functioning and vice versa. Significant positive correlations were found between the FB-A scales, the CBCL/4-18 syndrome scales and the CBCL/4–18 total score. Results indicate that family functioning and psychological health of children in families with mentally ill parents correlate closely and represent potential targets for future family interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Silke Wiegand-Grefe & Marlit Sell & Bonnie Filter & Angela Plass-Christl, 2019. "Family Functioning and Psychological Health of Children with Mentally Ill Parents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-12, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:7:p:1278-:d:221404
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jade Pilato & Géraldine Dorard & Basilie Chevrier & Agnes Leu & Aurélie Untas, 2022. "Quality of Life of Adolescents Facing a Parental Illness: A Person-Oriented Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Juan-Cancio Arcila-Arango & Manuel Castro-Sánchez & Sebastian Espoz-Lazo & Cristian Cofre-Bolados & Maria Luisa Zagalaz-Sánchez & Pedro Valdivia-Moral, 2020. "Analysis of the Dimensions of Quality of Life in Colombian University Students: Structural Equation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-11, May.
    3. Marlit Sell & Anne Daubmann & Holger Zapf & Bonnie Adema & Mareike Busmann & Maja Stiawa & Sibylle M. Winter & Martin Lambert & Karl Wegscheider & Silke Wiegand-Grefe, 2021. "Family Functioning in Families Affected by Parental Mental Illness: Parent, Child, and Clinician Ratings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.
    4. Hanna Stolper & Marjolein van der Vegt & Karin van Doesum & Majone Steketee, 2024. "The Integrated Family Approach in Mental Health Care Services: A Study of Risk Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(5), pages 1-20, May.

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