Depression in Children and Teens - What Increases Your Risk

What Increases Your Risk

Several factors increase a young person's chance of developing depression. These include:^{8, 2, 3}

• Having a parent or immediate family member who is depressed. This is the most important risk factor for depression. Children or teens who have a parent with depression are 3 times more likely to develop depression.
• Having been depressed before, especially if depression first occurred at an early age.
• Having a long-term medical condition such as diabetes or epilepsy.
• Having another mental disorder, such as conduct disorder or an anxiety disorder.
• Having a family member or close friend die.
• Being physically or sexually abused.
• Having problems with alcohol or drug abuse.

Other risk factors for depression include:

• Being a girl in early puberty. Until puberty, boys and girls have an equal risk of developing depression. After puberty and as adults, females are twice as likely as males to become depressed.
• Being exposed to family conflict.
• Not having good social relationships with peers.
• Being a bully or a victim of bullying.¹⁴