Intergenerational continuity of depressive symptoms: Genetic and environmental pathways
Navarro MC, De Roo M, Oldehinkel AJ, Hartman CA, Kretschmer T (2025)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2025
Journal
Book Volume: 55
Article Number: e263
DOI: 10.1017/S0033291725101633
Abstract
Background Depression runs in families, with both genetic and environmental mechanisms contributing to intergenerational continuity, though these mechanisms have often been studied separately. This study examined the interplay between genetic and environmental influences in the intergenerational continuity of depressive symptoms from parents to offspring. Methods Using data from the Dutch TRAILS cohort (n = 2201), a prospective, genetically informed, multiple-generation study, we examined the association between parents' self-reported depressive symptoms (reported at mean age of 41 years) and offspring depressive symptoms, self-reported nearly two decades later, in adulthood (mean age: 29 years). We assessed the role of genetic (polygenic scores for depressive symptoms in parents and offspring) and environmental mechanisms (parental warmth during adolescence) in explaining intergenerational continuity of depressive symptoms in separate and combined models. Results Parents' depressive symptoms, offspring genetic predisposition, and parental warmth were associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in offspring. In the combined model, parents' genetic predisposition was linked to their own depressive symptoms, which were linked to lower parental warmth, which, in turn, was linked to higher depressive symptoms in offspring, after accounting for offspring genetic predisposition, sex, age, and socioeconomic status. Discussion Both genetic and environmental mechanisms contribute to the intergenerational continuity of depressive symptoms independently and in interplay. Despite a significant effect, the influence of parental warmth was modest, suggesting limited covariation between this particular parenting measure and depressive symptoms, at least when assessed with large temporal distance.
Involved external institutions
University of Groningen / Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
Netherlands (NL)
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) / Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
Netherlands (NL)
Netherlands (NL)
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) / Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen
Netherlands (NL)
How to cite
APA:
Navarro, M.C., De Roo, M., Oldehinkel, A.J., Hartman, C.A., & Kretschmer, T. (2025). Intergenerational continuity of depressive symptoms: Genetic and environmental pathways. Psychological medicine, 55. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291725101633
MLA:
Navarro, Marie C., et al. "Intergenerational continuity of depressive symptoms: Genetic and environmental pathways." Psychological medicine 55 (2025).
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