Children at risk for depression get “stuck” on sad faces
Researchers at Binghamton University are studying how children's attention to emotional facial expressions correlates with their risk for developing depression. The study aims to determine if attentional biases toward sad faces are a cause or a symptom of depressive disorders in youth.
Why it matters
Identifying early psychological markers for depression could help clinicians develop more effective preventative strategies for children at risk.
A smile or a frown may reveal more than emotion alone. The faces that capture a child's attention could provide important clues about their mental health and how depression develops.
New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York, suggests that depression may influence how strongly children focus on emotional expressions such as happy or sad faces. The pattern appears to differ depending on whether a child has a family history of depression.
Researchers at the Mood Disorders Institute at Binghamton University study how depression develops in children and adolescents, with particular attention to how family history and emotional experiences may influence vulnerability over time. By identifying these patterns while children are still developing, scientists hope to better understand who may be at greater risk and eventually improve prevention strategies.
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