Children of depressed parents have an increased risk of developing mental disorders. While there are various studies concerning a pathogenetic perspective, fewer studies examined factors that protect mental health of these children. Knowledge about protective factors is necessary to establish prevention projects.

This systematic review gives an overview of protective factors for mental health of children of depressed parents.

Databases PsycINFO, Embase, Medline, PSYNDEX, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched for relevant studies in German or English published until August 2014. Targets were epidemiological studies concerning protective factors for children up to the age of 21 years who have at least one depressed parent. Selection process and assessment of methodological quality of the studies were conducted by two reviewers using a checklist.

Out of 3526 screened studies, finally thirteen studies were included. Efficient stress management strategies – in particular primary and secondary control coping – were identified as protective factors for mental health of affected children. Children's social competences as well as parental positive parenting skills also seem to have a protective impact. Restrictions to specific search terms, databases, and languages could have caused missing relevant studies with other characteristics. Limitations could also result from possible publication bias as well as methodological and qualitative differences regarding included studies.

In the context of prevention projects, children of depressed parents should be supported in adequately and efficiently coping with stress. Moreover, practitioners should aim at the promotion of social competences and the involvement of parents within prevention.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.