Mothers depression in early childhood increases the risk of adolescent anxiety and depression.

Main results After controlling for poverty and marital relationship factors, maternal anxiety and depression during early childhood predicted high anxiety and depression symptoms at age 14. The effect was small, but increased with repeated exposure to maternal depression. Poverty, marital break-up and distressed marital relationships during the child’s first five years also increased the risk of adolescent anxiety slightly. Stable single parent status was not a risk factor. There were no gender differences in risk factors, apart from poverty that had more of an effect on girls.