# Children as Emotional Confidants

> Children who act as emotional confidants for parents face higher adult depression risks.
- Title: Children as Emotional Confidants · Psychologies | Shortify
- Summary: Children who act as emotional confidants for parents face higher adult depression risks. Children who served as emotional confidants for parents before age…
- Keywords: emotional enmeshment, parent narcissism, child depression, psychological profile, adult depression, childhood role, emotional confidant, Psychologies
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/famille/relations-familiales/Les-personnes-qui-ont-grandi-en-jouant-le-role-de-confident-aupres-de-leurs-parents-ne-comprennent-qua-lage-adulte-ce-que-cela-revelait-sur-leur-profil-psychologique-644687
- Author: Guillaume Servant
- Published: 2026-11-03T20:03:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: emotional enmeshment, parent narcissism, child depression, psychological profile, adult depression, childhood role, emotional confidant
## Children as Emotional Confidants
Children who act as emotional confidants for parents before age 16 may face higher depression risks in adulthood.
## Emotional Enmeshment Defined
Emotional enmeshment occurs when children carry a parent's emotional burden before age 16.
## Parent Narcissism Vulnerable
Parents with vulnerable narcissism seek emotional support from children instead of partners.
## Study Findings
513 students from the US and Turkey reported higher depression symptoms when parents were narcissistic.
## Adult Consequences
Children become emotionally dependent, struggle with trust, and feel guilty about their own lives.
## Recovery Steps
Talking about emotional parentification, setting boundaries, and therapy help children build autonomy.
## Key takeaway

Children who served as emotional confidants for parents before age 16 are more likely to experience depression in adulthood due to emotional enmeshment.