SINGAPORE – Traumatic childhood experiences, such as emotional neglect, may lead to a higher prevalence of mental health problems, such as anxiety, when the child becomes a young adult, according to a new study.
Dr Lee Jungup from the Department of Social Work at the National University of Singapore (NUS) found that childhood trauma is a risk factor for mental health problems.
The study, which has not yet been published and is under review, found that problems such as neglect, cyberbullying and abuse during childhood can lead to depressive and anxiety symptoms in a young adult.
Dr Lee shared the study findings at the NUS Social Services Research Center Conference 2024 on March 20. The conference, focused on youth mental health, also covered topics such as the effectiveness of digital wellbeing initiatives.
In a sample of 1,000 local college students aged 18 to 30, nearly 75 percent reported experiencing emotional neglect as children. This included feeling alone and not having informal conversations with their family.
About 56 percent reported experiencing physical neglect, while about 37 percent recalled physical abuse as children.
Students with multiple experiences of childhood trauma were strongly associated with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Speakers at the event said digital tools could be useful in supporting youth well-being.
Ms Janice Weng, deputy director of the Ministry of Health’s Office for Healthcare Transformation (MOHT), said digital solutions alone are inadequate as young people have reported wanting human contact. However, the anonymity, which digital means can offer, remains highly valued due to stigma.
Workforce challenges will continue to grow with growing demand, and the use of digital technologies provides a sustainable and cost-effective way, she added.
Caleb Tan, senior director of MOHT, said digital solutions can complement in-person assistance.
He said: “If you face emotional difficulties in the middle of the night, who do you call? I can’t call my social worker because he would be sleeping soundly. This is where people can turn to digital platforms.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary said there are two major factors in Singapore relating to mental health: an individualistic society and the prevalence of social media.
Society is now more fragmented and social networks are smaller despite the availability of online platforms.
