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March 05, 2009
Unhappy children said to be more prone to depression, sickness as adults
BBC News (3/2) reports that a study by researchers at Kings College in London suggests that "unhappy children are more likely to grow up to become adults who are permanently sick or disabled."
After studying "over 7,100 people born between 1950 and 1955," investigators discovered that "those described as 'miserable' or 'unhappy' by teachers were five times more likely to be off work through ill-health in middle age." Moreover those children were "likely to be more prone to depression."
For the study, researchers "tracked down" many of the participants of a large study of children in the 1950s, when "teachers were asked about their temperament and school attendance." Researchers found that "some 392 reported they were unable to work because of permanent disability or ill-health -- 5.5 percent of the total questioned."
Meanwhile, "a quarter of those whose teachers had reported them as 'often appearing miserable, unhappy, tearful or distressed' were permanently sick or disabled." Max Henderson, MRCPsych, the study's lead researcher, said, "We can't say these childhood trends cause the ill-health later in life, but they certainly seem to be a contributing factor."
Related Links:
- "Unhappy children 'end up unwell'," BBC News, March 2, 2009.
Posted by admin at March 5, 2009 04:04 PM