Am J Psychiatry 1986; 143:856-861
Copyright © 1986 by American Psychiatric Association
Personal and social resources in children of patients with bipolar affective disorder and children of normal control subjects
D Pellegrini, S Kosisky, D Nackman, L Cytryn, DH McKnew, E Gershon, J Hamovit and K Cammuso
The authors examined the personal resources (social problem-solving
ability, internal locus of control, self-esteem, and self-perceived
competence) and social resources (social network structure and support) in
23 children of patients with bipolar affective disorder (probands) and 33
children of normal control parents. Positive resource profiles were related
to psychiatric well-being in the offspring. Nondisordered probands, in
particular, demonstrated a strikingly positive profile of personal
resources as well as a wide range of peer, sibling, and other kin
supporters. Disordered probands had a strikingly negative set of personal
resources and a relatively greater reliance on nonkin adult supporters. The
absence of a supportive best friend was associated with affective disorder
across offspring groups.
