TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and correlates of maladaptive guilt in middle childhood
AU - Donohue, Meghan Rose
AU - Tillman, Rebecca
AU - Perino, Michael T.
AU - Whalen, Diana J.
AU - Luby, Joan
AU - Barch, Deanna M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2020/2/15
Y1 - 2020/2/15
N2 - Background: Maladaptive guilt can develop by age three and is associated with severe affective psychopathology in adolescents and adults. Yet, little is known about its prevalence prior to adolescence, or which children are at greatest risk of developing this symptom. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of maladaptive guilt in middle childhood. Methods: This study examined a large community sample of 9-to 10-year-old children (N = 4485) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Maladaptive guilt was assessed through the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for DSM-5. Parental rejection, family conflict, and parental depression were assessed via questionnaires. Results: In depressed children, a 1-month prevalence of maladaptive guilt of 18.4% and a lifetime prevalence of 30.8% was found. Lifetime rates ranged from 1.8 to 4.1% in children with other psychiatric disorders. Cross-sectionally, maladaptive guilt was associated with lower family income-to-needs, greater family conflict, a history of maternal depression, and greater parental rejection. These findings held when controlling for children's depressive severity, indicating that these associations are specific to maladaptive guilt. Limitations: Maladaptive guilt was assessed through one item, though many studies of maladaptive guilt measure the symptom in this manner. Conclusions: Findings suggest that it may be beneficial for clinicians to assess for maladaptive guilt beyond the context of assessment for depression, particularly with children of low socioeconomic status and children of depressed mothers, whom this study suggests are at higher risk. Negative family climates and parenting might also be important targets of preventative interventions.
AB - Background: Maladaptive guilt can develop by age three and is associated with severe affective psychopathology in adolescents and adults. Yet, little is known about its prevalence prior to adolescence, or which children are at greatest risk of developing this symptom. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of maladaptive guilt in middle childhood. Methods: This study examined a large community sample of 9-to 10-year-old children (N = 4485) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Maladaptive guilt was assessed through the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for DSM-5. Parental rejection, family conflict, and parental depression were assessed via questionnaires. Results: In depressed children, a 1-month prevalence of maladaptive guilt of 18.4% and a lifetime prevalence of 30.8% was found. Lifetime rates ranged from 1.8 to 4.1% in children with other psychiatric disorders. Cross-sectionally, maladaptive guilt was associated with lower family income-to-needs, greater family conflict, a history of maternal depression, and greater parental rejection. These findings held when controlling for children's depressive severity, indicating that these associations are specific to maladaptive guilt. Limitations: Maladaptive guilt was assessed through one item, though many studies of maladaptive guilt measure the symptom in this manner. Conclusions: Findings suggest that it may be beneficial for clinicians to assess for maladaptive guilt beyond the context of assessment for depression, particularly with children of low socioeconomic status and children of depressed mothers, whom this study suggests are at higher risk. Negative family climates and parenting might also be important targets of preventative interventions.
KW - Family conflict
KW - Maladaptive guilt
KW - Maternal depression
KW - Negative parenting
KW - Prevalence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075970832&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.075
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.075
M3 - Article
C2 - 31818798
AN - SCOPUS:85075970832
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 263
SP - 64
EP - 71
JO - Journal of affective disorders
JF - Journal of affective disorders
ER -