Parents with persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) with anxious distress: an empirical contribution on coparenting characteristics in a sample with children at the onset of puberty

ackground: The onset and persistence of psychological issues in childhood and adolescence are often predicted by the presence of psychopathological symptoms in parents. Children's symptoms may result from low-quality caregiving, exposure to cognitive distortions from their primary caregivers, or immersion in stressful environments. These factors can be conceptualized within the framework of parental burnout, characterized by profound physical and emotional exhaustion. Aims: to examine the relationship between a parental psychiatric diagnosis of Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) with Anxious Distress (PDDad), as defined in the DSM-5, and specific characteristics of the coparenting relationship. These characteristics may serve as additional risk factors in caregiving practices, contributing to the stabilization of parental burnout syndrome, which could influence the emotional development of the child. Methods: The study reports findings derived from the administration of assessment tools as part of the project “Focus on Parents: Antecedents, Trajectories, and Role Differences in Parental Burnout.” The project was Funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU, Mission 4 Component 1 CUP J53D23017150001. The instruments used include the Parental Burnout Assessment, the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire, the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale, and the Coparenting Relationship Scale (CRS). The study involved 50 parents diagnosed with Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) with Anxious Distress (PDDad) and their children (average age=11 years). This clinical sample was compared to a control group of parents without a psychiatric diagnosis. Results: 40%, did not complete the assessment process. The clinical sample exhibited higher levels of parental burnout syndrome compared to the control group. Perceived support within the coparenting relationship was notably lower among parents in the clinical group. Children in the clinical group were more frequently exposed to parental conflict. Quantitative analyses revealed significant differences in the CRS subscales measuring agreement and division of caregiving tasks. Discussion: The clinical profile of parents diagnosed with PDDad appears to have a maladaptive impact on their ability to engage in emotional and physical caregiving. These parents tend to be less emotionally available, less sensitive, and more prone to negative emotions, despair, and irritability. These findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions, to support parents struggling with PDDad and mitigate the potential long-term effects on their children’s emotional development.