First Children And Single Children Called More Vulnerable To Experiencing Depression, Why?

Illustration of the first child prone to depression (Pexels)

JAKARTA - The first child and only child are said to be more vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Symptoms of depression can even be detected when they are 8 years old.

This was revealed through a study conducted by researchers at Epic, the firm that manages most of the electronic health records in the United States.

The study studied more than 182,000 children who had health checks at the age of 8, which was discrinated for anxiety by pediatricians.

Among the children studied, it was found that the oldest child or first child had a 48 percent chance of being diagnosed with anxiety. They were also diagnosed with 35 percent more depression than their younger siblings.

Then for single children who do not have siblings, it is possible that 42 percent is more likely to experience anxiety. Single children are also 38 percent more depressed than other children who have siblings.

Regarding the causes of single children and the first child being very vulnerable to depression, it is very complex.

Starting from the fact that the first child is considered a role model by other siblings, to the only child who is considered the only hope of his parents.

Anxiety and depression do not have a single cause. So understanding what factors might affect a child can help parents and doctors to ensure that they help the child with their specific needs," said the head of the study, Caleb Cox, quoted by Huffpost, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

With these findings, it is hoped that parents can pay more attention to the psychological inflammation of their children. It is also stated that the second child or youngest child may also struggle with anxiety and depression.

"So it's important for parents to make sure their children get the help they need, regardless of the child's birth sequence," the researchers concluded.