Intra-familial dynamics of mental distress during the Covid-19 lockdown
Authors: Pettersen Johanne H. , Eilertsen Espen , Hegemann Laura , Hannigan Laurie J. , Lund Ingunn Olea , Johannesen Pia M. , Corfield Elizabeth C. , Ystrom Eivind , Andreassen Ole A. , Havdahl Alexandra , Brandlistuen Ragnhild E. , Ask Helga 
Published: December 2024

Importance

Lockdowns and social restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic intensified the proximity and reciprocal exposure among members of nuclear families. It is unclear how variation in mental distress during this period is attributed to family members’ influence.

Objective

Using genetic data from family members, it is possible to disentangle parent-driven, child-driven, and partner-driven influences of mental distress. We separated between two types of influences; direct genetic–how an individual’s genotype influences their own mental distress, and indirect genetic–how an individual’s genotype influence the mental distress of family members.

Design, Setting and Participants

Based on a pre-registered analysis plan, we used longitudinal data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study, reported by adolescents (N=4,388), mothers (N=27,852) and fathers (N=25,953) during the first two months of the Covid-19 lockdown. Trio genome-wide complex trait analyses were used to separate direct and indirect genetic effects at each timepoint. Separate models also included adolescents’ non- pandemic responses (N=10,012). Trio polygenic score (PGS) design was used to investigate direct and indirect effects of specific liability factors, and whether the associations changed over days in lockdown, adding interaction terms (PGS×time).

Exposure

Family trios’ genotype and PGS for anxiety, depression, ADHD, neuroticism, and anorexia nervosa.

Main Outcome

Mental distress was measured using the five-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist.

Results

We found evidence of family members influencing each other, with a pattern of greater proportions of variance explained later in lockdown. Indirect genetic effects were observed across family members; 10% of the variance in adolescent mental distress was mother-driven, 2-3% in mothers were partner-driven, and 5% in fathers were offspring-driven. Mothers’ genetic liability to depression and ADHD was positively associated with fathers’ mental distress. No interaction effects between PGS and time were found. Direct genetic effects contributed to 9-10% variance in mental distress across family members, partly explained by genetic variants associated with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and neuroticism.

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings highlight the importance of family dynamics, particularly during societal crises like the Covid-19 pandemic and emphasizes the value of including family members in mental health interventions.

Key Points

Question

How did mothers, fathers and adolescent offspring influence each other’s mental distress during the Covid-19 lockdown?

Findings

Up to 10% of the variance in mental distress was explained by family-related environmental factors (proxied by genetic variants in family members). Mother-driven effects were most important among adolescents, while father-driven effects explained variance among mothers, and child-driven effects explained variance in fathers. Fathers’ mental distress was also higher when mothers had higher genetic liability for ADHD and depression.

Meaning

The findings highlight the potential value of including family members in mental health interventions.