Childhood adversities and adult depression: basic patterns of association in a US national survey.
The long-term relationships between various forms of childhood adversity and adult episodes of major depression are explored in a representative household survey of the United States adult (age 25+) population. Seven of the eight childhood adversities considered are significantly associated with recent (12-month) episodes of depression. These effects are largely indirect consequences of some childhood adversities leading to a life history of depression and prior depression leading to new episodes. Only three of the eight childhood adversities directly affect recent onset or recurrence. The paper closes with a discussion of implications for future research on the long-term effects of childhood adversities.
Kessler
R C
RC
Department of Sociology and Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48106-1248.
Magee
W J
WJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations