Is there a place among the siblings that is more or less favorable for the child? Many parents ask this question. According to a study conducted by Epic Research, reported by HuffPost, the answer is yes. This scientific investigation has in fact demonstrated that eldest and only children are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression, from a very young age. The conclusions are unambiguous: seniors are 48% more likely to suffer from anxiety and 35% more prone to depression than their siblings. Only children are 42% more exposed to anxiety and 38% to depression.
Beware of parental pressure
The main author of this study, Caleb Cox, however, puts this result into perspective: the child’s place among siblings is not not the sole cause of his mental health problems more “can help parents and clinicians identify specific needs”he tells HuffPost.
And on closer inspection, these findings are not that surprising. In general, parents of eldest and only children place high hopes on them, not hesitating, consciously or unconsciously, to put pressure on them. By imposing particularly high expectations on themparents can transmit certain stress to them, thus leading to mental health problems.
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