The long shadow of suicidal ideation: The impact of offspring suicidal ideation in adolescence on parental cognitive function 20 years later

Mental health challenges in offspring can have profound and lasting effects on parents' health and well-being. This study investigates the relationship between offspring suicidal ideation measured during adolescence and parental memory performance 20 years later (mean parental age = 63.63), while also examining parental psychological and behavioral factors as potential underlying mechanisms. This study utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) and the Add Health Parent Study. Ordinary least squares regression models were estimated, incorporating a comprehensive set of parent- and child-level covariates. Sobel mediation tests were conducted to assess the indirect mediating effects. Parents whose offspring suffered suicidal ideation during adolescence had significant worse verbal and working memory functions measured two decades later. This relationship was robust to adjustments for parent- and child-level covariates, as well as the offspring's suicidal ideation in adulthood. Parental psychological factor (particularly perceived stress) and substance use (particularly binge drinking) accounted for approximately 14 % and 5 % of the observed effects on parental verbal memory, respectively; these mediators did not explain the effects on parental working memory. Overall, these results highlight the long-term association between offspring mental health struggles and parental cognitive health. There may be both direct and indirect stress-related mechanisms that trigger a cascade of psychological and behavioral changes that adversely impact parental cognitive function over time. These findings underscore the critical need for family-based interventions and parental support programs to address the long-term consequences of adolescent mental health.