Childhood trauma and the effects it has on later life

It's well-known that traumatic experiences in childhood increase the likelihood of depression and other mental health problems in adult life.

However, an investigation suggests that there could well be an upside to these childhood experiences as well.

People who reported that they'd experienced the death of a close family member or parental separation before the age of 17 showed increased levels of empathy, a greater ability to see things from alternative perspectives and had a better understanding of other people's emotional states.