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Cited by 2,884Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentChild Abuse and TraumaFamily Dynamics and Relationships

Risky families: Family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring

Repetti, Rena L., Taylor, Shelley E., Seeman, Teresa E.·2002·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330
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Abstract

Risky families are characterized by conflict and aggression and by relationships that are cold, unsupportive, and neglectful. These family characteristics create vulnerabilities and/or interact with genetically based vulnerabilities in offspring that produce disruptions in psychosocial functioning (specifically emotion processing and social competence), disruptions in stress-responsive biological regulatory systems, including sympathetic-adrenomedullary and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical functioning, and poor health behaviors, especially substance abuse. This integrated biobehavioral profile leads to consequent accumulating risk for mental health disorders, major chronic diseases, and early mortality. We conclude that childhood family environments represent vital links for understanding mental and physical health across the life span.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330

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316 of 316 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Early childhood adversity is associated with alterations in social, cognitive and behavioral processes in daily life including greater threat appraisal, difficulty regulating emotions, and ineffective social behaviors, all of which are associated with alterations in stress physiology.

    “For illustration, early childhood adversity is associated with alterations in social, cognitive and behavioral processes in daily life including greater threat appraisal, difficulty regulating emotions, and ineffective social behaviors (Repetti et al., 2002) all of which are associated with alterations in stress physiology (Woody and Szechtman, 2011).”

    From More than a feeling: A unified view of stress measurement for population science (2018) · cites this paper as Repetti et al., 2002

  • Developmental studies link optimal parenting with fewer child problems in mental and physical health, substance use, and academic achievement.

    “Developmental studies link optimal parenting with less frequent problems in children in a range of domains, including mental and physical health, substance use, and academic achievement (1–3).”

    From Long-term effects of parenting-focused preventive interventions to promote resilience of children and adolescents (2015) · cites this paper as [3]

  • Variations in parental care associate with individual differences in neuroendocrine and autonomic responses to stress in humans and with emotional reactivity.

    “Likewise, variations in parental care associate with individual differences in neuroendocrine and autonomic responses to stress in humans as well as emotional reactivity.18,33-36”

    From Early life adversity and the epigenetic programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function (2014) · cites this paper as [18]

  • Warm, nurturing families tend to promote resistance to stress and diminish vulnerability to stress-induced illness.

    “Thus, warm, nurturing families tend to promote resistance to stress and to diminish vulnerability to stress-induced illness.18,25”

    From Early life adversity and the epigenetic programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function (2014) · cites this paper as [18]

  • Broader familial dysfunction including persistent emotional and physical neglect, family conflict, cold distant parent-child relationships, and harsh inconsistent discipline compromises cognitive and emotional development and increases risk for depression and anxiety disorders to a level comparable to abuse.

    “Broader forms of familial dysfunction including persistent emotional and physical neglect, family conflict, cold, distant parent-child relationships, and conditions of harsh, inconsistent discipline compromise cognitive and emotional development and increase the risk for depression and anxiety disorders to a level comparable to that for abuse.16-23”

    From Early life adversity and the epigenetic programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function (2014) · cites this paper as [18]

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Authors
Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Seeman, T. E.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2002-03
Volume
128
Issue
2
Pages
330-366
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330
OpenAlex
W2138630136
Cited by
2,884
References
314
Citations by year
2026: 116 · 2025: 97 · 2024: 90 · 2023: 115 · 2022: 128 · 2021: 145 · 2020: 135 · 2019: 150 · 2018: 143 · 2017: 188 · 2016: 191 · 2015: 211 · 2014: 173 · 2013: 149 · 2012: 166
FWCI
52.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG017265)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH056880, T32MH015750)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Keywords
family social environment, family conflict, parental aggression, parental neglect, emotional processing, social competence, stress response, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, sympathoadrenal system, substance abuse, health behavior, mental illness, chronic disease, early mortality, genetic susceptibility, childhood family environment, lifespan development
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Family, Health Status, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Infant, Mental Health, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Social Environment, Stress, Psychological

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