The bonds that mend us can also break us. The closest people who make up our inner circle can be an invaluable source of support in the most difficult times, but they can also become a source of conflict that ultimately leads to psychological disorders such as depression.
Family ties that can cause depression
A very interesting study conducted at Iowa State University analyzed the impact of relationships with close family members, such as parents and siblings, as we reach middle age.
They discovered that the quality of the relationship we have with our mothers, especially women, and with our siblings will profoundly influence our psychological well-being, even if we have already formed our own families and our partner is our primary source of support.
These psychologists found that any source of ongoing tension with mothers and/or siblings, similar to the problems we may experience with our partners, significantly increases the risk of suffering from depressive symptoms.
Women are more susceptible to depression because they often have a closer and more intense relationship with their mothers, and they often assume the role of caregiver. The need to care for their parents also forces siblings to spend more time together and coordinate their schedules, which leads to further conflicts.
Family tensions: A source of stress that leads to depression
Interpersonal conflicts are a major source of tension and stress. The more significant the person in our lives and the more intense the emotional bond, the more important we will consider these conflicts and the more they will affect our psychological balance.
We tend to associate these conflicts with increased stress, but that’s only the first phase. When stress becomes chronic, it can eventually lead to depression. Chronic stress makes us more irritable, which prevents us from reacting adaptively and ultimately causes more friction with those close to us, making us less emotionally available. We react badly because we’re stressed, and that reaction, in turn, generates more stress.
However, the effects of stress are not limited to the psychological level; they also have a physical impact. Chronic stress causes an increase in cortisol, better known as the “stress hormone,” but also reduces the production of serotonin and dopamine, two neurotransmitters linked to depression that regulate everything from our energy levels, appetite, sleep, and mood.
Therefore, family tensions not only cause stress, they can also cause depression if not resolved in time.
References:
Gilman, S.E. et. Al. (2017) Depression and mortality in a longitudinal study: 1952–2011. CMAJ ; 189(42): 1304-1310.
Gilligan, M. et. Al. (2017) Family Networks and Psychological Well-Being in Midlife. Social Sciences ; 6(3): 94.
