Childhood behaviour predicts depression

A child's behaviour during the preteen years may predict whether he or she will experience depression, violent behaviour or social phobia as a young adult. Children who engage in aggressive behaviour like fighting, pushing others and other problem behaviour, become increasingly socially isolated during adolescence.Previous studies have shown that children who show signs of anxiety and depression have a higher risk of depression and anxiety disorders in their later years. Childhood emotional and behavioural problems precede antisocial and other behaviour in adulthood. Researchers from the University of Washington, USA, conducted a study of Seattle schoolchildren recruited from elementary schools in high-crime neighbourhoods. In the study, researchers collected data for 765 children between the ages of 10 and 11 years.

On follow-up, about 10 years later, 21 per cent of the 21 year olds said they had committed at least two violent acts during the previous year. Twenty and 17 per cent, respectively, said they had experienced depression or social phobia within the past year.The children's reports of shyness were associated with an increased risk of later social phobia. Parents' reports of their child's shyness or attention problems also predicted social phobia later. Parental and teacher reports also predicted depression and violent behaviour in future.

The findings in this study suggest that parents, teachers, and service providers might be able to identify children with emotional problems at an early age and intervene to reduce those problems as a way to prevent later violence and depression.
Parents need not fear that their child's occasional scuffle or other conduct problem is a sign of his or her long-term risk for later violence or depression. Some involvement in conduct problems is normal for many boys and girls. It is only when those problems begin at a very early age or are more severe, that they increase a child's risk for later violence or depression.