The Impact of Parental Criticism on Depressed Teens: A Brain Imaging Study – Shiv Telegram Media
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Title: Study Finds Adolescents with Depression More Sensitive to Parental Criticism, Less Responsive to Praise
A recent study published in Psychological Medicine has shed light on the relationship between parental feedback and the mental health of adolescents with depression. Researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands conducted the study, which compared the responses of depressed adolescents to parental criticism and praise with those of their healthy counterparts.
The study consisted of 20 Dutch adolescents diagnosed with either dysthymia or major depressive disorder, alongside 59 healthy adolescents without depression. To measure the participants’ brain activity, MRI scans were taken, and self-reported ratings of mood were collected.
The findings revealed that both depressed and healthy adolescents experienced a decline in mood after receiving criticism and an uplift in mood after receiving praise. However, the responses of depressed adolescents to praise were significantly muted compared to their healthy counterparts. MRI scans further indicated increased brain activity in regions associated with emotion regulation and memory for depressed adolescents.
Additionally, the study found that depressed adolescents were more inclined to pay attention to negative feedback and remember it more intensely. They also displayed more negative self-views and perceived positive feedback as less relevant to themselves compared to healthy adolescents.
One interesting result was that parental feedback that aligned with the adolescent’s self-view had a more significant impact on their mood. However, criticisms that aligned with their self-view had a diminished effect on depressed adolescents. This raises important questions about the influence of parental involvement on the mental well-being of adolescent children.
It is worth noting that the study featured a small sample size and included adolescents with other medical or psychiatric conditions, which may have influenced the results. Therefore, further research is required to validate and expand upon these findings.
The researchers suggest that identifying and recognizing valued qualities in adolescents may be crucial for enhancing their mood, and parental involvement could potentially play a role in their treatment. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the unique needs and sensitivities of depressed adolescents regarding parental feedback.
The study, titled “Sticky criticism? Affective and neural responses to parental criticism and praise in adolescents with depression,” offers valuable insights into the intricate relationship between parental feedback and the mental health of adolescents. By addressing this issue, parents and healthcare professionals alike may be better equipped to support and guide young individuals through the challenges of depression.
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