Childhood adversity, encompassing experiences of threat, deprivation, and unpredictability, has long been recognized as a major factor in the development of mental health problems. A new study, conducted by researchers at Anhui Medical University in China, adds to this body of evidence, showing that children who endure high levels of adversity face a greater risk of conditions such as depression, ADHD, and anxiety. However, the study also offers a glimmer of hope: maintaining a healthy lifestyle—defined by close friendships, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, limited screen time, and a nutritious diet—can significantly weaken this link, particularly for boys.
The authors write:
“In our study, based on 3-year longitudinal data from a cohort of children in Anhui Province, China, we observed that all dimensions of childhood adversity (CA) may lead to a persistently high risk of multiple mental health problems in children. Significantly, our research indicates maintaining a healthy lifestyle may mitigate the persistently elevated risk of mental health problems attributed to CA.”
This research not only reinforces the crucial role of social determinants in mental health but also challenges the prevailing focus on biological and individual-level interventions. By demonstrating that lifestyle factors can serve as protective buffers against the damaging effects of childhood adversity, the study invites a broader reconsideration of mental health prevention and treatment strategies. The findings suggest that fostering healthy lifestyles in children, especially those at high risk due to adverse experiences, could be a vital component in mitigating the long-term mental health consequences of early-life challenges.
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But what actually is health? Let me tell you. A natural human being is health. A natural unspoiled child is health. A natural animal or plant in an unspoiled natural environment is health. Nature itself IS health! And civilization IS a disease, and the cause of disease, and the cause of all the problems we label as mental health disorders when they are actually the instinctual, emotional and neurological adaptations to a perfectly unnatural and destructive social historical process called civilization when we look at it outwardly, and the intellect when we look at it inwardly. Of course both civilization and the intellect are one indivisible process that create each other, and they are rooted in the social and historical accumulations of human forms through time – languages, practices, objects, images etc which outwardly are the stuff of civilization and inwardly are the stuff of the thinking mind. It is this pathological growth of social history that destroys natural health. Here is a more complete explanation but it’s hard to put into words….
https://youtu.be/vRVGWYwyLiI?si=FBpapOGm2fpY_5NU
PS:
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You are correct, and very smart!
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Thank you.. I’ve been in therapy for over 40 years. My diagnosis for Asbergers only happened when I was 72. I’m now 79.. many pieces of understanding have fallen into place. I am greatful for any and all new thoughts.
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I don’t think this passage is a good passage,who publish this kind of shit in mad in America?and,I’m very disappointed to mad in America.
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Anhui Medical University in China?I think I have no need to see this kind of things again.And I’ll rethink the information’s credibility I received in this website.
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