Relationship with your siblings as a child determines your vulnerability to depression. A recent study puts such men at risk of developing depression who had poor relationships with siblings during childhood, than those who got along better. The study, Childhood Sibling Relationships as a Predictor of Major Depression in Adulthood, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, emphasizes that it doesn’t mean that a poor childhood relationship with a brother or sister causes depression, but the two are strongly associated. The study spans over 30 years and assessed 229 men who were being followed since they were 18 or 19 in 1939-42. The men were interviewed along with their parents and re interviewed when they were 25, 30 and 50, and the questionnaires have continued to interview to the present. Researchers lay the credit of their study to prospective design and long follow-up. After gathering information from these questionnaires, experts came to know about the type of relation the men shared with their siblings as kids and adults. It was also taken into account whether any of the men had a family history of depression. The study spotted 15% of the men, who had poor relationship with their mothers and the 16 % having a family history of depression suffered from the same later in life. But 26% were those who had poor or vicious relation with siblings, had episodes of major depression as adults. The study cautions that all those prone to depression for poor relation with siblings were men, highlighting that the trouble fits if the person is a male. But, this is not to out rightly reject females from the study. It might be the case that males are more vulnerable to developing stress and depression for their relation to siblings than females. However, the study is mum on whether depression causes harsh interactions among siblings, or whether vicious relationships are an early indication of depression, and also whether the two factors relate to each other to enhance the risk. So, what are you waiting for? Develop a close, warm relationship with your siblings if want to evade trouble later on. Image Via: Nytimes.com