Does Adolescent Stress Lead to Mood Disorders in Adulthood?

AUTHOR: Science Daily Staff/Concordia University

PUBLICATION NAME: Science Daily

DATE OF PUBLICATION: November 4, 2010

SUMMARY: According to Concordia University’s recent research, stress may have a greater risk in our lives than we formerly thought. Over the years, there has been an increase in depression and stress rates and it has become a major health issue. The affect of depression on young people’s lives are gradually increasing and they are suffering earlier in life. Previous studies show that an early stage of stress can lead to depression or a bipolar disorder. According to the principle researcher Ellenbogen, children who have families that have been dealing with stress, depression, or a psychiatric disorder is said to have a much higher risk of battling with it in their lifetime. Not only are children inheriting these alarming traits from their parents, but also from their environment that they have been raised in. The environment could either be stressful and disordered and it is impacting the children's mental health in adolescence and adulthood. According to Ellenbogen’s recent findings, the cortisol, a stress hormone which is formed by the body in result to upsetting and stressful life events, has shown that the stress hormone can influence and develop a serious mood disorder in people’s lifetime. It has also shown that children of at-risk families have higher cortisol levels due to exposure to family stress and parenting style than children from families that are not battling with stress, depression, or disorders. Children that show high cortisol levels double their risk in developing and battling an alarming and major mood disorder in their adulthood.

LINKS TO STUDY: None

ARTICLE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101103135348.htm

SUBMITTED BY: Arielle Calara