Kids with no friends more likely to become depressed, study reveals

By Staff Writer

A new report reveals that kids who do not have friends are at risk of developing depression as teens.

According to U.S. News and World Report, researchers from Concordia University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Vermont analyzed the behaviors of 231 children who were in grades three through five. Over the course of three years, participants were asked to rate how shy they felt and if they preferred solitude.

The team of researchers found that teens with poor social skills - who had trouble making friends and communicating with their peers - were more likely to become more withdrawn in their early teen years. Kids who were anti-social showed higher levels of sadness and depression, according to the news provider.

The lead author of the study, which appears in the journal Development and Psychopathology, said that social adjustment issues can worsen over time. In addition, he also said that friendships can protect at-risk kids from internalizing problems such as depression and anxiety.

Problem teens who are struggling with emotional disorders may benefit from wilderness therapy, which can help children cope with their feelings and instill the confidence needed to make friends.