A Quebec study found that 15% of preschoolers have high levels of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, these symptoms do not improve with age.
The study was conducted by a team from the International Laboratory for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Montreal.
Mothers of 1 759 young children were surveyed three times on the behavior of their child during the first five years of their lives. From this, researchers established several risk factors that predispose certain toddlers to developing problems.
They found children who had a difficult temperament at 5 months old and had mothers who suffered from periods of depression were the most important predictors of depression and anxiety. They also suggest that there may be a possible genetic link.
These alarming results demonstrate that it is important to support not only the child but also the mother, to decrease the risk of depression and anxiety at a young age.