There is not enough research in this field but enough clinical evidence that parents who are unwell, effect their children. Common sense would also confirm the truth of this statement.
The effect varies with the type, length and severity of the illness.The effect varies with the child's age, developmental stage, intellectual capacity, resilience and other supports available.
The effects range from psychological, physical, developmental, social and educational impacts
Anxiety disorder is common, 30% of the general population and anxious parents usually have anxious children. The children do not feed or sleep well in early infancy, suffer reflux and separation anxiety later in childhood. The children suffer nightmares, anxieties of their own or shared with their parents. these children often are anxious about their parents as much as their parents are anxious about them. Adolescence can be difficult as separation anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety can affect the normal separation from parents and finding a sense of identity and place in society.
Depression is very distressing for infants who can only communicate by feeling the emotions of their parents and expressing their own emotions. Without external support and opportunity to have fun and play with other people or siblings, they often become depressed too. They often worry about their parents, and feel a sense of responsibility for the state of play or guilt that they may have caused the problem.
Substance abuse disorder has major problems for children as it is usually chronic, severe and affects all levels of family function from maintaining family denial, avoiding social groups, not able to take friends home, suffering neglect, lack of money, domestic fighting and violence, secondary effects of physical, mental complications in the parent and loss of employment and housing Frequent changes in accommodation and schools are common and this affects social, emotional and educational development. 50 % of children of alcoholics will abuse alcohol as well.
Psychotic disorders have been found to have a smaller effect on children so long as they are not neglected or abused.
Clearly the effects of prolonged illness, hospital admissions, side effects to medications and effects on capacity to work and provide family time have a greater impact on children than mild or short term illness. Suicide or attempts are particularly malignant for everyone in society but more so for children show have a sense of responsibility, guilt, abandonment and are more likely to copy a parent or try to be with them. Supporting a grieving parent can be very difficult for children. Some will try to take over the parent role and others will disengage.
Work in the field is mostly looking at how to build resilience and support systems for at risk children.
The effect varies with the type, length and severity of the illness.The effect varies with the child's age, developmental stage, intellectual capacity, resilience and other supports available.
The effects range from psychological, physical, developmental, social and educational impacts
Anxiety disorder is common, 30% of the general population and anxious parents usually have anxious children. The children do not feed or sleep well in early infancy, suffer reflux and separation anxiety later in childhood. The children suffer nightmares, anxieties of their own or shared with their parents. these children often are anxious about their parents as much as their parents are anxious about them. Adolescence can be difficult as separation anxiety, social anxiety, performance anxiety can affect the normal separation from parents and finding a sense of identity and place in society.
Depression is very distressing for infants who can only communicate by feeling the emotions of their parents and expressing their own emotions. Without external support and opportunity to have fun and play with other people or siblings, they often become depressed too. They often worry about their parents, and feel a sense of responsibility for the state of play or guilt that they may have caused the problem.
Substance abuse disorder has major problems for children as it is usually chronic, severe and affects all levels of family function from maintaining family denial, avoiding social groups, not able to take friends home, suffering neglect, lack of money, domestic fighting and violence, secondary effects of physical, mental complications in the parent and loss of employment and housing Frequent changes in accommodation and schools are common and this affects social, emotional and educational development. 50 % of children of alcoholics will abuse alcohol as well.
Psychotic disorders have been found to have a smaller effect on children so long as they are not neglected or abused.
Clearly the effects of prolonged illness, hospital admissions, side effects to medications and effects on capacity to work and provide family time have a greater impact on children than mild or short term illness. Suicide or attempts are particularly malignant for everyone in society but more so for children show have a sense of responsibility, guilt, abandonment and are more likely to copy a parent or try to be with them. Supporting a grieving parent can be very difficult for children. Some will try to take over the parent role and others will disengage.
Work in the field is mostly looking at how to build resilience and support systems for at risk children.
