Underweight baby girls are at a increased risk for depression, according to a recent study. Researchers found that girls who weighed less than 2.5kg (5.5lb) at birth were more likely to suffer depression when they are between the ages of 13 to 16 than those girls born at a normal weight.
The study, which was led by Duke University, examined data on more than 1,400 children, aged nine to 16. The Duke University study found that among girls, 5.7% were born weighing less than 2.5kg, and of these, 38% experienced depression at least once between the ages of 13 and 16. Previous studies have revealed a potential for depression may lie dormant in small babies, before emerging later under stressful conditions.
Regardless of their birth weight, no more than 4.9% of the boys experienced depression. Nor was low birth weight linked to an increased risk of any other psychiatric condition, including anxiety disorders, in either boys or girls.
This research was published in The Archives of General Psychiatry.
Cited story.
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Interesting but I wonder if low birth weight is a causative factor or is it merely masking another factor such as low SES.
I wonder if the study was able to account for this.
Don't have time to read the article though-grant applications due in. The pure Joy of deadlines!