The Impacts of Parental Schizophrenia on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Offspring: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Previous literature has identified the development and prevalence of psychiatric disorders amongst offspring of those with schizophrenia. Little attention has been given to the investigation of the impacts of parental schizophrenia on the psychosocial well-being of offspring. Thirteen papers were chosen, and the quality was assessed using a quality assessment tool for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. The results displayed an overall negative impact on aspects of psychosocial well-being on offspring of those with schizophrenia. The negative impacts of parental schizophrenia resulted in a higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders, lower levels of social functioning (social deficits), poorer employment situations, lower levels of self-concept (e.g. self-esteem and self-confidence) and lowered quality of life in comparison to healthy controls (HC) and other high-risk groups. Findings support the diathesis-stress model which suggests negative impacts on the psychosocial well-being of offspring are due to the interplay between genetic and environmental factors coinciding with vulnerabilities in the brain. This provides opportunities for clinicians to develop interventions for offspring of those with schizophrenia and rationalises public health to provide more funding for this group to be used as a preventative method.