Disadvantaged children 'at greater risk of adult mental health problems'

It concludes that a tendency towards adult depression and other psychological problems is more strongly associated with social deprivation or experiences of care during childhood than with the type of family - two parents, a lone parent or stepfamily - in which children have been raised.

Based on data from the National Children Development Study (NCDS), which tracked the lives of 17,000 people from birth to age 33, the research emphasises that only a small minority of children became prone to emotional problems as adults.

By separating out the 'structure' of the families in which children were raised (living with two birth parents, in a stepfamily, or with a separated or widowed lone parent) from the 'context' (growing up with severe disadvantage or an experience of care) the study found that:

• Differences in the level of risk of mental health problems were especially significant for those who had been taken into care as children, or those raised in socially deprived families with low incomes and inadequate housing.
• Among women, later difficulties were more strongly associated with past experience of severe disadvantage than having been in care. The reverse was true for men.
• Children who grew up in families with both birth parents - and who did not experience disadvantage or any placement in care - had fewer psychological problems than others. Even so, family structure was generally less important in determining risk than the social context.
• The likelihood of psychological problems as an adult was also influenced by other factors as children grew up, regardless of family background. Those who gained qualifications and found jobs were at reduced risk; those who smoked and drank heavily were at added risk.

Family conflict
The study's authors, Ann Buchanan and JoAnn Ten Brinke from the University of Oxford's Department of Applied Social Science and Research, also examined links between early childhood circumstances and subsequent conflict with parents. They found that:

• While 23 per cent of children raised by both their birth parents reported serious disagreements at age 16, the same was true of 33 per cent of children in stepfamilies and more than half those living with a lone parent, whether separated or widowed.
• Conflict with parents was associated with an increased risk of psychological problems in adolescence and adulthood.

Attitudes to parenting and family life
When last interviewed at age 33, seven out of ten NCDS participants agreed it was acceptable to have children outside marriage. A majority also disagreed with the statement that 'couples who have children should not separate'.

Adults who had grown up in lone parent families were among the least likely to support a view that parents should always marry and never separate Ü as were working women and individuals with a high level of non-verbal skills or men with qualifications.

Satisfaction with life
Most 33 year olds reported high levels of satisfaction with their present lives. However, men who been in care during their childhood were significantly less content.

Women who were mothers by the age of 23 were significantly less satisfied with life than those who had no children. Moreover, when other factors were taken into account, those who had become parents by age 33 appeared no more satisfied with their lives than those who were childless.

Ann Buchanan said: "Generally speaking, children who were brought up by both birth parents to the age of 16 and who had no experience of care or early disadvantage enjoyed higher levels of life satisfaction, more family support, fewer psychological problems and less conflict as adults.

"However, the differences between these children and those who grew up in step families or with a widowed lone parent were not significant for most of the outcomes studied. Results for children raised in other lone parent families were more variable. But children who came from disadvantaged homes or who spent time in care - irrespective of family type - were the most vulnerable of all."

She added: "The vast majority of children did not develop emotional problems as adults. The study, nevertheless, highlights opportunities to prevent depression and other psychological disorders by offering early support to children and adolescents most at risk. Measures to improve the quality of care for young people being looked after by local authorities could yield particular benefits."