Depression declines after leaving college, leaving home

Well that is reassuring:

A new University of Alberta study of almost 600 of its graduates (ages 20-29 years old) tracked mental health symptoms in participants for seven years post-graduation and looked at how key events like leaving home and becoming a parent were related to depression and anger. Graduates showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms over the seven years. Expressed anger also declined over time after graduation, suggesting improved mental health.

The researchers also found that while home may be a haven for young people in the early years of adulthood, the longer they stay at home, or if they return home, the more likely they are to experience symptoms of depression. Previous research has found that more than half of students under 25 in four-year university programs lived with their parents.

In this study, it was shown that younger participants were more depressed at times when they lived on their own, while older participants were more depressed while they lived with their parents.

In spite of all the travails of personal and professional life, I can always comfort myself that at least I don't live at home. (This is an impression that I assure you my parents share.) Not tested in this study were the increases in parent anxiety and depression from the delayed adolescence of their children.

This is a values issue, but I never was quite happy until I started taking care of myself. Though economic pressures often keep children at home longer than they would like, I can't but think that it comes at a price.

(I love you, Mom and Dad, and I will still visit!)