Strict parenting causes changes in children’s brains that increase their risk of mental health issues, including depression, later in life, a new study says.
The University of Leuven study involved 23 boys and girls between 12 and 16 in Belgium. They said their parents were manipulative, strict, and used physical punishment. Researchers compared them to peers with supportive parents.
Genome mapping revealed the first group had increased variation in “methylation,” which is linked with depression. A small chemical molecule is added to DNA, changing the way instructions are read – causing, for example, a gene to increase or decrease the amount of enzyme it produces. “Those who reported harsher parenting showed a tendency towards depression, and we believe that this tendency has been baked into their DNA through increased variation in methylation,” Van Assche said. “We are now seeing if we can close the loop by linking it to a later diagnosis of depression and perhaps use this increased methylation variation as a marker, to give advance warning of who might be at greater risk of developing depression as a result of their upbringing.
She said it’s “likely” that any significant childhood stress could lead to a higher risk of depression later in life.