Family disadvantages in early life are associated with depression in adulthood.

Main results 10.3% of participants were depressed at follow up. Multiple disadvantages in early life were associated with depression (odds ratio [OR] 5.1, 95% CI 2.1 to 12.0). More women than men had depression (OR 2.7, CI 1.1 to 6.3). Types of disadvantages that were associated with depression were social dependence and overcrowding (OR 5.1, CI 2.1 to 12.0), poor physical care and poor mothering (OR 3.4, CI 1.4 to 7.8), and family or marital instability (OR 3.0, CI 1.3 to 6.7). Independent risk factors for depression were multiple disadvantages at 5 years of age (p < 0.001) and being female (p < 0.05) (table). Specific disadvantages that were independent risk factors for depression were family or marital instability (p < 0.05); social dependence combined with overcrowding (p < 0.05); and poor mothering combined with poor physical care (p < 0.05) or female sex and poor physical care (p < 0.05) (table).