Investigation of causal associations between feeling loved in childhood and depression and anxiety in adulthood using mediation and Mendelian randomization

This research will look at how feeling loved in childhood influences depression and anxiety. People whose parents were depressed or anxious are more likely to become depressed or anxious themselves. Also, feeling loved in childhood has been linked to better mental health. Within this research, we will look at whether feeling loved in childhood breaks the link between depression and anxiety in parents and depression and anxiety in their children. We will also use people’s genetics to see whether the link between depression and anxiety and feeling loved in childhood is causal.