Unraveling the upward intergenerational link between adolescent depression and maternal health in later life

Abstract Objective This study investigated whether depressive symptoms in adolescence are associated with mother's physical health in later life. It further explored the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship, focusing on psychological, behavioral, and healthcare‐related pathways. Background Although substantial research has explored the impact of mother's mental health on child outcomes, limited attention has been given to the reverse relationship—how a child's mental health, particularly depressive symptoms during adolescence, affects maternal physical health later in life. Method Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and the Add Health Parent Study (AHPS), this study employed longitudinal analyses to capture the temporal dynamics of the relationship. Multiple pathways were examined, including psychological, behavioral, and healthcare‐related factors. Results The findings indicate a significant association between adolescent depressive symptoms and maternal physical health in later life, including functional limitations, self‐rated health, and number of diagnosed chronic diseases. Mediation analysis revealed that psychological, behavioral, and healthcare‐related factors did not significantly mediate the relationship, suggesting that a child's depressive symptoms in adolescence may have an independent and direct effect on the mother's physical health in later life. Conclusion The findings reveal a reverse intergenerational impact of mental health, suggesting that a child's depressive symptoms in adolescence can serve as a long‐term risk factor for the mother's physical health. Implications These results emphasize the importance of family‐centered mental health interventions that address not only adolescents' needs but also the well‐being of their mothers in later life.