Abstract
The family stress generation process was examined, as was the role of family stress generation in adolescent adjustment. Participants were mothers (n = 119), fathers (n = 96), and adolescents (n = 119) from intact, community families. Assessments were conducted at two points during adolescence, separated by one year. Mother's initial depressive symptoms generated perceived stress in both her marital and mother-adolescent relationship a year later. In turn, mother-reported family relationship stress exacerbated her depressive symptoms. Mother-reported family stress generation contributed to higher levels of depressive symptoms in both adolescent girls and boys. Although no evidence of a family stress generation process for fathers was found, father-reported family relationship stress was associated with greater adolescent depressive symptoms.
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