Parental depression affects children — and the effects are small enough to be workable
A meta-analysis of 193 studies of maternal depression and child mental health
Reviewed by Sian Trombley, CCCFounder, Thrive Family Company
Strong confidence
Source citation
Goodman S. H., Rouse M. H., Connell A. M., Broth M. R., Hall C. M., Heyward D. (2011). Maternal Depression and Child Psychopathology: A Meta-Analytic Review. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-010-0080-1
Published 1 January 2011 · Added to Thrive 26 July 2026 · Reviewed 26 July 2026
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Parents who are unwell often fear they are damaging their children. This meta-analysis gives the honest size of the risk.
Published research findings
The study
Goodman and colleagues pooled 193 studies examining links between maternal depression and child internalising, externalising and general psychopathology.
What researchers examined
The magnitude of association and the factors that strengthened or weakened it.
What they found
Associations were significant but small, strongest for internalising problems, and weaker when children were older, in higher-income families, and where a supportive second caregiver was present.
Thrive editorial interpretation
What this may mean for families
Treating parental depression and strengthening other supportive relationships are direct interventions for child wellbeing.
What this doesn't tell us
Important limitations
Mostly correlational; few studies isolated fathers or co-parents.
Evidence confidence describes how much weight this study's design can carry — not how strongly the finding applies to any individual child or family.
Therapist perspective — Thrive interpretation, not a finding of the study
Therapist Perspective
Getting your own support is not selfish. On this evidence, it is one of the more effective things you can do.
Practical family considerations
Treating a parent's depression is child mental health work.
This research summary is educational and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or therapeutic advice.
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