Summary: New research finds that children with chronic health conditions are significantly more likely to experience mental health problems in late childhood and early adolescence. At age 10 and 13 these children were about twice as likely to report anxiety, depression or other mental health difficulties compared with their healthy peers, and by age 15 they were around 60% more likely to receive a mental health diagnosis.
Source: Queen Mary University of London
Overview
A longitudinal study led by Queen Mary University of London reports a clear association between chronic physical health conditions in childhood and increased rates of mental health problems through early adolescence. Using data from a large birth cohort, the research shows that chronic illness in late childhood is linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression and other psychiatric difficulties at ages 10, 13 and 15.
Study design and measures
The analysis drew on roughly 7,000 participants from a well-established birth cohort. Parents—primarily mothers—rated their children’s health when the children were aged 10 and again at 13, using a scale from “very healthy, no problems” to “almost always unwell.” For the purposes of this study, children categorized as “mostly healthy, a few issues,” “sometimes quite ill” or “almost always unwell” were classed as having a chronic health condition. This approach captured a range of long-term conditions, including those with relatively mild or well-managed symptoms.
Mental health status at each age point was assessed using the cohort’s Development and Well-Being Assessment, a standard questionnaire covering functioning, mood, anxiety and psychotic symptoms. Because overall rates of specific psychiatric diagnoses in the dataset were low, the study considered any identified mental illness—such as anxiety or depression—rather than focusing on single disorders.
Key findings
Children identified as having chronic health conditions showed a substantially elevated risk of mental health problems. At ages 10 and 13, these children were about twice as likely as healthy peers to present with a mental health disorder. By age 15 the increased risk persisted, with a roughly 60% higher likelihood of mental health diagnosis compared to children rated as healthy.
The pattern was also evident in a subgroup analysis of children with asthma. Although asthma is often mild and manageable, children in this subgroup nonetheless had higher rates of mental health difficulties at 10, 13 and 15 than children without chronic conditions.
Mechanisms and contributing factors
To explore why chronic physical conditions and mental health problems co-occur, researchers examined a range of contextual factors available in the cohort data. These included family functioning, peer relationships, activity levels, experiences of bullying and health-related school absenteeism. Two factors consistently emerged as important mediators: peer victimization (bullying) and missing school due to health issues.
Health-related school absence was the most consistent predictor of later mental health problems. Frequent absences can disrupt learning, limit social engagement and reduce opportunities for supportive peer interactions, all of which may contribute to poorer emotional wellbeing. Similarly, children with chronic conditions who experienced bullying were more likely to develop mental health problems over time.
Implications
Study author Dr Ann Marie Brady emphasizes that chronic physical conditions can interfere with children’s daily lives and social development, potentially increasing vulnerability to mental illness even before adolescence. Monitoring attendance and social experiences at school—particularly signs of bullying—may help identify children with chronic conditions who are at highest risk of developing mental health problems. Early recognition and supportive interventions within schools and healthcare settings could reduce the long-term burden of co-occurring physical and mental health difficulties.
Notes on the dataset
The sample came from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), commonly known as Children of the 90s, a long-term health research project that began with over 14,000 pregnant women in 1991–1992 and continues to follow their children and descendants. The study provided repeated measures of physical health, mental health and a range of social and family variables that enabled the current longitudinal analysis.
In this analysis, chronic illness classification relied on approximately 7,000 maternal ratings of their child’s health over the prior twelve months at ages 10 and 13. Mental health outcomes were taken from Development and Well-Being Assessment questionnaires completed at the same ages, capturing a broad range of psychiatric symptoms and impacts on functioning.
Original research
Publication: “Chronic illness in childhood and early adolescence: A longitudinal exploration of co-occurring mental illness.” Author: Dr Ann Marie Brady. Journal: Development and Psychopathology. DOI: 10.1017/S095457942000020 (closed access).
Contact and media
Queen Mary University of London – Media contact: Joel Winston. Image source: public domain.
Conclusion
This study strengthens the evidence that chronic physical health conditions in childhood are associated with elevated risk of mental health problems through early adolescence. The findings highlight the importance of coordinated attention to school attendance, bullying prevention and psychosocial support for children with long-term health needs to help mitigate the mental health consequences over time.
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