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Abstract
Parental depression, in part through intergenerational transmission, is one of the strongest predictors of psychopathology in offspring. Risk notwithstanding, the parent-child relationship, household chaos, and variations in duration and timing of parental depression can impact the development of adolescent depression. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, this study examines the presence, chronicity, and recency of parental depression on depressive symptoms in adolescent offspring, as well as the moderating role of parental closeness and family chaos. Results show that chronic and recent depression are associated with adolescent depressive symptoms above and beyond the presence of depression alone, especially for maternal caregivers. Parental closeness and family chaos demonstrated main effects, but no moderating effects, on adolescent depressive symptoms, supporting their role as promotive factors. Findings highlight the importance of variability in timing and chronicity of parental depression on the transmission and development of depressive symptoms during adolescence.