Childhood curiosity might be somewhat protective against depression in adulthood, study finds

An analysis of data from the 2020 China Family Panel Study found that childhood curiosity was associated with adult depression, with individuals who recalled being curious as children tending to report slightly fewer depressive symptoms on average. The study also found that this relationship might be explained in part by future confidence, a component of optimism. The paper was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Depression is a common mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities. It can also involve physical symptoms such as fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, and difficulty concentrating.

Although the causes of depression are not fully understood, research has identified many contributing factors, including both genetic and environmental influences. In particular, some psychological characteristics appear to offer protection against depression and anxiety. One such trait is curiosity, which plays a key role in knowledge acquisition, skill development, and social relationships. Studies suggest that curiosity in childhood fosters psychological and cognitive flexibility, qualities that may help individuals maintain positive thinking when facing complex or stressful situations in adulthood.

Study author Chengbin Zheng and his colleagues sought to explore the relationship between childhood curiosity and depression in adulthood. They analyzed data from the 2020 wave of the China Family Panel Study.

The China Family Panel Study is a nationally representative, longitudinal survey designed to capture changes in Chinese society, including shifts in health, education, population, and economic conditions. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive social panel studies in China. The project began in 2010 and has conducted five biannual follow-up surveys. The data used in this study came from the fifth wave, completed in 2020, and included responses from 17,162 participants with valid data.

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The researchers assessed participants’ self-reported childhood curiosity using the item: “At 14 years old, I was curious and exploratory and enjoyed new experiences.” They also measured future confidence by asking, “How would you rate your confidence in the future?” Subjective social status was assessed with the question, “How would you rate your social status in your local area?” Depression symptoms were measured using the 8-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-8), a widely used screening tool.

Results indicated that participants who recalled higher levels of curiosity at age 14 tended to report slightly lower levels of depressive symptoms in adulthood. In addition, individuals who expressed higher confidence about the future — defined as the belief that the future will bring positive outcomes — reported fewer symptoms of depression.

The researchers tested a statistical model suggesting that childhood curiosity leads to greater future confidence, which in turn lowers depression risk. Their analysis supported this model, particularly for women.

“Childhood curiosity was negatively associated with depression in adulthood. For men, future confidence partially mediated the relationship between childhood curiosity and depression in adulthood; while for women, future confidence had a full mediation effect on the relationship between childhood curiosity and depression in adulthood,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the links between childhood curiosity and depression. However, it should be noted that the association between childhood curiosity and depression reported in the study is very weak, almost negligible in strength and only detectable because the number of study participants was very large. Additionally, childhood curiosity assessment was based on adults recalling their curiosity level when they were children. This leaves room for recall bias to have affected the results.

The paper, “Does childhood curiosity influence depression in adulthood?”, was authored by Chengbin Zheng, Leilei Liang, Tongshuang Yuan, Junsong Fei, Xixi Zhao, Huimin Wang, Jiaying Gao, Xiaoying Liu, and Songli Mei.