Association between early temperament and depression at 18 years
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Updated: Apr 26, 2026

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Published on: January 24, 2025
Helen Bould1, Ricardo Araya, Rebecca M Pearson
1Centre for Academic Mental Health, School of Social and Community Medicine, Bristol, UK.
Background:
Early childhood temperament, particularly negative emotionality (high tendency to show distress), may be a risk factor for subsequent depression.
Methods:
Using data from a large UK cohort (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children), we examined the association between temperament on the Emotionality Activity Sociability Questionnaire at age 6 and ICD-10 depression at 18. Results were adjusted for a range of confounders.
Results:
Children with high emotionality scores at age 6 had a 20% (7-36%) increase in the odds of being diagnosed with depression at age 18.
Conclusions:
Depression at 18 years has an early developmental diathesis, which means we may be able to identify children at risk of developing depression in young adulthood.
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