At a glance
- Childhood trauma linked to higher psychosis risk: People exposed to early adversity, especially emotional abuse and neglect—are two to three times more likely to develop psychosis later in life.
- Neglect may be as harmful as abuse: Deprivation-related experiences, like emotional or cognitive neglect, showed a slightly stronger link to psychosis than direct threats such as abuse or violence.
- Early screening and trauma-informed care are essential: Identifying and supporting those with childhood trauma could help prevent or delay psychosis, especially in vulnerable groups.
We often hear that exercise is good for our mental health. But according to a new study from the University of Georgia, it’s not just about how much you move, it’s about the why, how, and where that truly make a difference.
For decades, researchers have tried to understand the mental health benefits of physical activity by focusing on measurable factors, minutes spent exercising, calories burned, or steps taken. But that approach may be missing the bigger picture.
“Historically, physical activity research has focused on how long someone exercises for or how many calories were burned,” said Patrick O’Connor, co-author of the study and professor in the Department of Kinesiology at UGA’s Mary Frances Early College of Education. “The ‘dose’ of exercise has been the dominant way researchers have tried to understand how physical activity might influence mental health, while often ignoring whether those minutes were spent exercising with a friend or as part of a game.”
In other words, context is key. Whether someone is jogging alone through traffic or playing a joyful game of football with friends can make a profound difference in the mental health impact of the activity, even if the physical exertion is the same.
The research team reviewed a range of studies to explore this idea more deeply. These included large-scale population studies, randomised controlled trials, and a growing body of work that looks at the specific conditions under which exercise is performed.
Findings confirmed that people who regularly engage in leisure-time physical activity, like yoga, cycling for fun, or playing sports — tend to report lower levels of depression and anxiety. However, these mental health benefits don’t necessarily extend to all kinds of physical activity. For instance, house cleaning or working a physically demanding job doesn’t seem to provide the same psychological lift. Why? Again, the researchers suggest context plays a major role.
Although the researchers did not find statistically significant differences in risk between men and women, they observed that women showed slightly stronger associations between psychosis and overall adversity, especially in relation to sexual abuse. Another striking discovery was that people who experienced childhood adversity tended to develop psychotic symptoms around nine to ten months earlier than those who did not. This suggests that early trauma may accelerate the onset of psychosis in vulnerable individuals.
While the study cannot prove that adversity causes psychosis, the links are clear and complex. Traumatic experiences may lead to psychological consequences such as insecure attachment, negative thought patterns, and self-stigma. On a biological level, they can affect the brain’s development, immune and stress response systems, and even gene expression. The researchers also acknowledged that other factors—like genetics, substance use, socio-economic conditions, and access to healthcare—are likely involved.
For clinicians and mental health professionals, the study’s implications are clear. The researchers argue that early screening for childhood trauma should be standard practice when assessing patients with psychosis or those at high risk. They also emphasised the value of trauma-informed care and treatment approaches that account for the long-term psychological impact of early life experiences.
As the team concluded, “Early identification and support for individuals with a history of childhood adversity may be crucial for mitigating the risk of psychosis.” They also suggest that prevention efforts aimed at reducing childhood trauma—especially in families already facing challenges like poverty or genetic risk—could make a meaningful difference. Supporting children through enriched environments and teaching strong coping strategies could help protect mental health and reduce long-term risks.
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The post The Lasting Psychological Impact of Childhood Adversity first appeared on MQ Mental Health Research.
