Adolescent depression and behavior problems are on the rise and paternal depression may be contributing to this increase, regardless of whether the fathers and children are genetically related, according to new research from Penn State and Michigan State. The researchers looked at naturally occurring variations in genetic relatedness between parents and their adolescent children in the 720 families participating in the Nonshared Environment in Adolescent Development (NEAD) study, with over half of those families containing a child-rearing stepparent. Researchers found that paternal depression was associated with adolescent depression and adolescent behavior problems regardless of whether the fathers and their children were genetically related.
— source Penn State | Jul 6, 2022