Genetics and mental health in children can increase the risk of mental health conditions, but external factors like stress, lifestyle, and environment also play a key role in shaping a child’s mental health.
By Tyler Womack, Pediatric Psychologist at CHOC
When a child is diagnosed with a mental health condition, parents may wonder if their family’s health history contributed to it. It is important to consider how genetics play a role in the development of a child’s mental health condition. Genetics is the study of how certain traits pass from parents to their children and from generation to generation. A child’s traits, such as eye color, are determined by genes, which are made up of DNA. Genetics can influence children’s mental health, but many other factors also play a role in these disorders.
Dr. Womack, a neurodevelopmental pediatric psychologist at CHOC, helps parents understand how genetics and other factors may influence a child’s risk of developing a mental health disorder and suggests strategies to lower the risk.
Although having a close relative with a mental health disorder can increase the risk of a child developing that disorder, it does not mean they will. Generally, genes alone cannot cause a child to develop a mental health condition. Instead, it is the combination of genetic risk plus external factors, like stress, that make a mental health condition more likely to develop.
How much do genetics play a role in a child developing a mental health disorder?
To better understand the impacts of genetics, researchers look at “heritability” percentages, which indicate how much of a mental health condition is influenced by genetics versus other factors. For example, when thinking about the risk of a child developing depression, about 37% of that risk can be explained by genes, and 63% can be explained by external factors. This suggests that if a child develops depression, it’s more likely due to life experiences, rather than the genes they were born with. While exact heritability percentages vary, some research studies estimate the following heritability percentages for these conditions:
- 32% of the risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is due to genetics.
- 85% of the risk of developing bipolar disorder (BD) is due to genetics.
- 80% of the risk of developing schizophrenia is due to genetics.
- 57% of the risk of developing alcohol use disorder is due to genetics.
- 67% of the risk of developing nicotine use disorder is due to genetics.
Risk of developing a mental health condition in children with family history
When a child is diagnosed with the same mental health condition as their parents, some parents may feel guilty, thinking they passed it down genetically. This guilt can come from a desire to protect their child from struggles or feeling responsible for their well-being. However, no mental health condition is 100% genetic. For example, there is no “depression gene” or “anxiety gene.” This means a child will not have a mental health condition simply because a parent, grandparent, sibling or another family member has one. Although a family history of a mental health disorder can increase the risk of a child developing that mental health condition, it is not a guarantee. Instead, mental health conditions are influenced by a combination of genetics, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Factors that influence mental health conditions
For example, imagine two kids, Child A and Child B, both from families with a history of depression. Child A has gone through more difficult experiences, like trauma, parental divorce or other stressful events. On top of that, Child A also has trouble sleeping and does not eat a healthy diet. All these things, combined with their family’s history, could increase the likelihood of Child A developing depression. Now let’s look at Child B, whose family also has a history of depression, but their upbringing was less stressful, and they live a healthy lifestyle. Because of this, Child B is less likely than Child A to develop depression.
Example how different factors affect a child’s mental health outcome
Additionally, children with no family history of a mental health disorder can still develop a mental health condition. The reason is that there are many factors other than genetics that can impact a child’s mental health. A child might have a mental health issue for many reasons, like going through something difficult (such as losing a loved one, being bullied, or facing abuse), struggling in school, not sleeping well, or feeling a lot of stress. Children’s relationships with others and their experiences are important for their mental health because they shape how well they handle stress and challenges. Therefore, caregivers should provide early help and intervention to lower the chances of their child having a mental health condition.
Five ways to help reduce a child’s risk of developing a familial mental health condition
The following tips may help manage a child’s symptoms or reduce the risk of a child developing a mental health condition that runs in families:
- Create a supportive and safe environment: Give children a space to share their feelings. This can help them feel safe and can reduce feelings of stress. Caregivers should reassure their children that they are there to support them through tough times.
- Develop a plan to manage stress: While we can’t always avoid stress, we can teach children how to manage it. Coping skills such as deep breathing, journaling, engaging in fun hobbies, and talking to a trusted adult can help (for more information on coping skills view X link). Additionally, when parents model healthy ways to deal with stress, they are also helping their children see an example of good coping strategies.
- Encourage healthy habits: A balanced diet, exercise, and good sleep can protect a child’s mental health.
- Stay connected and engaged: Helping your child make friends and build strong relationships can improve their mental well-being. This may include arranging playdates with other children, encouraging your child to join clubs or teams, and volunteering together.
- Seek professional support early: If you notice any signs or have concerns about your child developing a mental health condition, contact a qualified mental health professional. Seeking early treatment and therapy can help a child’s mental health, even if there is a family mental health history.
Talking to a child about a family member’s mental health condition
Although talking about family mental health can be tough, it is an important conversation to have with your child. Children may experience mixed emotions when they see a family member having a difficult time. They may also develop negative beliefs about family members who have mental health conditions.
Children may also blame themselves or feel guilty about a family member’s struggles. It is important to remind them that their family member’s condition is not their fault. When talking to your child about the mental health condition, explain the symptoms and treatment in child-friendly language.
Don’t lie about the situation but also be careful not to scare your child. Explain to your child that while they might be at a higher risk of this condition, it doesn’t define them, and it is not guaranteed they will struggle with this condition. Tell your child that taking care of their mental health is just as important as their physical health and that you are there to support them.
Additional resources for mental health conditions and genetics:
- Supporting Children Whose Loved Ones Have Mental Illness – Children’s Hospital of Orange County (choc.org)
- Family Health History – CDC
- Looking at my genes: What can they tell me about my mental health?
- Inheriting genetic conditions
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Get mental health resources from CHOC pediatric experts
The mental health team at CHOC curated the following resources on mental health topics common to kids and teens, such as depression, anxiety, suicide prevention and more.
