Childhood 'Wangtta' Trauma May Cause Depression... "1.8 Times Higher Risk"

Researchers: "Preventing Bullying Is Most Important... Immediate Response Needed Even If It Occurs"

A study has found that psychological trauma caused by bullying during childhood can lead to aftereffects such as depression in adulthood.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] A study has found that psychological trauma caused by childhood bullying can lead to aftereffects such as depression in adulthood.

Professor Jeon Hong-jin and his research team from the Department of Psychiatry at Samsung Seoul Hospital announced on the 31st the results of a study analyzing 4,652 adults aged 18 and over (average age 49.8) who participated in the 2016 epidemiological survey on mental disorders among Koreans.

The research team analyzed what kind of trauma the 216 respondents diagnosed with depression had experienced in childhood and the correlation between that trauma and the onset of depression.

The types of trauma they experienced included psychological trauma (59 people), emotional neglect (59 people), physical trauma (54 people), bullying (51 people), and sexual violence (23 people). Among these, bullying showed the strongest correlation with depression that developed in adulthood. The research team defined bullying as being teased or deliberately excluded by other adolescents or adolescent groups.

When comparing the probability of developing depression in adulthood, those who experienced bullying were found to be 1.84 times more likely to suffer from depression than those who did not.

On the other hand, trauma caused by other reasons such as physical trauma, emotional neglect, psychological trauma, and sexual violence did not show a statistically significant causal relationship with the onset of depression.

However, the research team also explained that since the risk of developing depression increased as the number of trauma types increased, it is difficult to completely exclude the influence of other forms of violence. Respondents who reported experiencing five or more types of trauma had a risk of developing depression 26 times higher than those who had not experienced trauma.

The research team emphasized the prevention of bullying and immediate response to its occurrence, as childhood bullying experiences continue to have negative effects even in adulthood.

Professor Jeon Hong-jin said, "Childhood bullying experiences are not easily forgotten and, in severe cases, can haunt a person throughout their life. Preventing the harm itself is most important, but once harm occurs, active intervention is necessary to overcome the aftereffects."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.