The relationship between early life experiences and adult depression

In a prospective longitudinal study of 9,005 individuals the association of early life experiences with symptoms of adult depression were investigated: It can be shown that the experience of negative life events before the age of 7 years enhances the risk of developing adult depression. The childhood risk factors include: long seperation from the mother, being bullied by other children, parental financial difficulties, and domestic conflict. Death of a parent during childhood, in contrast, does not increase the risk of adult depression. Socio-economic adversity in childhood is a risk factor for adult depression in females but not in males.