Childhood bullying linked to depression in adulthood

It's no surprise that research has shown links between bullying and depression in children.

Now, a recent study shows when a child is a victim of bullying, depressive symptoms can stretch into adulthood too.

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The study looked at 3,525 children and young adults between the ages of 10-24.

Researchers looked at a variety of factors, including if a child was bullied, and whether they had a genetic risk for depression.

They found being bullied during childhood was linked to depression, but the risk for depression into adulthood was much higher for children who also had a genetic risk for depression and a mother who had postpartum depression.

Dr. Tatiana Falcone, of Cleveland Clinic, did not take part in the study but said we have to do everything we can to recognize and prevent bullying -- especially for young children. 

She said children who develop depression before their teenage years are more likely to have depression later in life.

"When bullying happens when children are 10 years or younger, it's definitely more impactful and has more risk factors for depression," Falcone said.

Falcone said previous research has shown bullying can have an impact on the brain as severe as if a person has suffered a traumatic brain injury.

And in children, bullying has been shown to impact depression both in the short and long term.

Falcone also said depression is not typically the result of a single event but is usually caused by a number of factors.

"Depression is a disease that has multifactorial avenues," she said. "There are not only genetic factors, but also developmental factors, genetic factors, and environmental factors that impact the development of depression." 

Complete results of the study can be found online in JAMA Network Open.


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