Friendships during teenage years have a significant impact on mental health, not just through emotional support, but also through genetic traits. A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that a person’s friends’ genetic predisposition to mental health issues can influence their own risk of developing similar issues later in life. The study, based on data from over 1.5 million people in Sweden, showed that peers’ genetic risks can predict an individual’s risk of substance abuse, major depression, or anxiety. These effects were stronger among school-based peers, particularly during the ages of 16-19. More research is needed to fully understand these social genetic effects.
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Friend’s Genetic Traits Can Influence Your Mental Health Risk: Study
