New Irish research has found that children who experience adversity before the age of nine are more likely to report mental health problems in late adolescence.

However, the findings also show that improving the relationship between parents and children could prevent subsequent mental health problems, even in children who have experienced severe adversity.

The study was led by a team from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and it involved data on over 6,000 children who had taken part in the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) study.

The researchers found that overall, over one-quarter of the children had experienced adversity before the age of nine, such as the death of a close family member, parental conflict, or a serious injury.

By the age of 17 and 18, almost one-fifth of the young people were experiencing significant mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and hyperactivity.

The study found that those who had experienced adversity in their childhood were significantly more likely to report mental health problems in their late teens.

The researchers noted that parent-child conflict explained 35% of the relationship between childhood adversity and late adolescent ‘externalising' problems, such as hyperactivity. It also accounted for 42% of the relationship between childhood adversity and ‘internalising' problems, such as depression.

"Children who experience multiple or severe life events are at an increased risk of mental health problems, but not all of those exposed to such events develop such problems. Our research points to some factors that can be useful for offsetting the risk of mental health problems in those who have been exposed to difficult life events," explained the study's lead author, Dr Colm Healy, of the RCSI.

According to the study's principal investigator, Prof Mary Cannon, of the RCSI, among children who had experienced adversity early on, "we found that reducing conflict between the parent and child, and fostering a warm relationship, can protect them from a broad range of later mental health problems".

"We also found that improving a child's self-esteem and encouraging physical activity may also be useful intervention targets for preventing difficulties with mood and anxiety following earlier adversity," Prof Cannon noted.

She added that is "a hopeful story".

"It points towards effective interventions to improve outcomes for children who had experienced difficulties early in life."

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Psychological Medicine.