Children who suffer psychological problems – such as trauma over their parents divorcing – earn up to 30 percent less than others when they grow up, a study revealed. It warned that psychological problems in childhood have a more severe long-term impact than physical conditions such as speech defects because they persist through life。

Researchers looked at 17,634 children born in Britain in the first week of March 1958. They were tracked throughout their childhood, and their parents and doctors were quizzed about the emergence of any psychological problems. Doctors were asked if they had shown signs of "emotional maladjustment", which could include being extremely upset and confused if their parents divorced。

The study found those who suffered childhood psychological problems are likely to be "less conscientious" and tend to have "less stable" personal relationships. By the age of 50, an adult who had psychological problems as a child will typically earn 30 percent less than one who didn't. By comparison, minor physical problems such as speech defects resulted in a three percent pay hit。

James Smith, one of the authors of the study, said:"Childhood psychological problems can have significant negative impacts over the course of an individual's life."

研究發(fā)現，心理不健康兒童(比如那些經歷過父母離異之痛的孩子)成年后收入比健康同齡人少了30%。該研究結果具有警示意義，即與兒童時期的生理障礙(如語言能力缺陷)相比，同時期所患的心理疾病給患者帶來的影響持續(xù)時間更長、程度也更嚴重，因為心理疾病會持續(xù)一生。

研究人員調查了17643名出生于1958年第一周的英國兒童，并對他們的童年期進行了跟蹤調查。而他們的父母和醫(yī)生也被問及孩子是否有心理問題出現。其中醫(yī)生需要回答，這些孩子是否有“情緒失調”的跡象，比如父母離婚后孩子們是否非常煩躁或者迷茫。

研究發(fā)現，童年經歷過心理困擾的孩子“比較沒有責任心”，而且個人關系“不太穩(wěn)定”。待他們長到50歲，收入一般比童年幸福者少30%。相比之下，比較次要的生理問題(比如語言能力缺陷)所導致的收入減少比例僅為3%。

研究人員之一的詹姆斯-史密斯說道：“童年時期患有心理疾病對個人成長所帶來的負面影響不容小覷。”