“We were surprised to find that deprivation-related experiences such as financial strain or lack of emotional and social support had more consistent and long-lasting associations with depression than threat-related experiences like bullying or family conflict,”
said Giri. “This suggests that the chronic absence of key resources during the entire childhood may be just as damaging, or even more so, than exposure to threat.”
Girls were consistently more likely than boys to report depression and anxiety, and children from socioeconomically disadvantaged or younger-parent households faced greater risk. Giri explained: “Families with children aged 17 or younger need to consider being aware of their children’s mental health status. Our study found that the prevalence of depression rises from 11% at ages 12–13 to 30% at ages 16–17, and anxiety increases from 5% to 10% over the same period.”
He added that early intervention is vital: “This can be prevented with early intervention that begins as early as age 10 or 12. It is important to address unresolved trauma among parents, and children raised in deprived environments should be considered at risk for depression during adolescence.”
Giri noted that government and clinical support will be essential: “Some of the early life adversities, such as extreme poverty, are less modifiable with short-term interventions, while others, such as neglect, are more modifiable with family-centred parenting interventions. We suggest following a socioecological model of child health, addressing all early life deprivation,s including socio-economic harms, as well as parenting practices through multi-component interventions. State and national government spending on this is crucial.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to explore resilience factors that may protect against the intergenerational effects of trauma. “We plan to investigate resilience factors such as supportive relationships, community connectedness, and cultural identity that may help protect against the intergenerational effects of adversity. Ultimately, we hope our research will inform trauma-informed and family-centred prevention programmes that can promote wellbeing across generations,” said Giri.
He also expressed gratitude to participants, saying, “We are deeply grateful to the families who participated in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Their continued involvement helps us better understand how early experiences shape wellbeing over time and provides vital evidence to guide public health policy and mental health services in Australia.”
