DIALOGS WITH PREADOLESCENTS AND ADOLESCENTS - MOTHER-CHILD INTERACTION PATTERNS IN AFFECTIVELY ILL AND WELL DYADS

This study examined affective/communicative patterns in the interactio ns of unipolar, bipolar, and well mothers with their preadolescent and adolescent children. As part of a large longitudinal project, mother- child interaction was assessed for two siblings ages 8 to 11 and 12 to 16. Interactional difficulties were linked to both maternal affective illness and child problem status. preadolescent children appeared mor e comfortable/happy with well mothers than with affectively ill mother s. Mothers and their preadolescents were more critical/irritable with each other when the child had a psychiatric disorder. Gender differenc es were apparent, particularly in regard to mother's current psychiatr ic status. Interactions in adolescent-daughter dyads were more critica l when mothers met criteria for a major depressive episode within the month. The results illuminate interactive processes through which psyc hopathology may be perpetuated in families.