Published on: June 7, 2021
Updated on: June 7, 2025
Author: Kentucky Counseling Center
The debate on nature vs. nurture has been ongoing for many years. Many questions have been asked in the cultural, scientific, philosophical, and mental health fields. Are behavior, personality, and mental health shaped by nature or nurture?
Nature is defined as genetics, hormones, and traits that affect human behavior, physical appearance, and even diseases. Nurture is defined as environmental factors, childhood experiences, social relationships, upbringing, culture, and experiences that influence a person. In this article, you will learn whether mental health is influenced by nature or nurture—and how both play crucial roles.
Understanding Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Health
Before diving into specific examples, it’s important to clarify the essence of this debate. Nature vs. nurture is not merely a question of “one or the other”; research increasingly shows a complex interplay between genetic predispositions (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) in determining everything from personality traits to susceptibility to mental disorders.
Nature vs. Nurture Debate in Mental Health
Twin studies and research have shown that human traits, personality, and diseases are influenced by nature for 49%, while 51% result from upbringing. This aligns with widely cited findings indicating that mental health, like many other aspects of human behavior, is a result of both inherited traits and life experiences.
Personality
One of the most discussed aspects of the nature vs. nurture debate is personality. How do children develop their personalities? Does genetics solely influence personality, or is it learned through environmental factors?
Children often mimic their parents’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, as parents serve as role models. Personality, in many cases, is learned through what a child witnesses and experiences in their upbringing. Thus, personality is primarily nurtured, not solely genetically passed on.
Sexual Orientation
Another often-debated topic is sexual orientation. A poll was conducted in Washington DC on homosexual adults about the reason they chose their sexual orientation—whether it is nature or nurture. The poll gathered the following data:
- Fifty percent said that nature has to do with their sexual orientation.
- Thirty percent attributed their sexual orientation to upbringing and environmental influences.
- Ten percent said both nature and nurture play a role.
- Six percent were unsure.
- Four percent stated that something else caused their sexual orientation.
Some studies point to a significant biological (nature) component in sexual orientation, while personal accounts and polls suggest an environmental (nurture) influence. The debate, therefore, continues—underscoring that both biological and environmental factors may intertwine in complex ways.
Mental Disorders
Nature plays a big role in the development of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression. However, genetics alone does not fully determine whether someone will develop these conditions. Mental disorders typically arise from a combination of genetic and environmental influences.
There is no single “genetic switch” that flips the development of a mental disorder, but genes can increase vulnerability. Childhood experiences, traumatic events, or stressors can trigger mental health conditions. For example, a person can develop anxiety even if no family member has a history of it, pointing to the influence of environmental factors.
Latest Research & Statistics
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental disorders are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Recent studies show that:
- An estimated 1 in 8 people globally lives with a mental disorder.
- There is a notable genetic component in disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but environmental triggers such as trauma or stress often play a decisive role in the onset.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also reports that the prevalence of mental illness has increased in recent years, underscoring the need for both genetic and environmental considerations in assessment, prevention, and treatment.
How Nature (Genes) Affects Mental Wellness
The big question is how genetics affects mental health. Nature is an important factor in the development of mental conditions. Scientists have shown that psychiatric disorders tend to run in families and suggest potential genetic links. That is why doctors usually ask about family history when diagnosing mental health conditions.
Studies show the association of biological factors with the development of mental health disorders:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and major depressive disorder are 20–45% inherited.
- Anorexia nervosa and alcohol dependence are 50–60% inherited.
- Autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are 75% genetic.
As you can see, mental conditions are not 100% hereditary. It’s safe to say that mental health is influenced by both nature and nurture.
How Nurture (Upbringing) Affects Mental Health
Nurture, which encompasses upbringing, environment-related influences, experiences, and relationships, also plays a big part in a person’s mental health. For instance, a person may develop substance abuse to cope with painful experiences, or depression due to an accumulation of life stressors.
Even if someone is genetically predisposed to a mental disorder, it might never manifest without an environmental trigger—such as a traumatic event or chronic stress.
Nature and Nurture: Is There a Connection?
Nature and nurture are inseparable; they consistently interact. In mental health, nature affects nurture, while nurture can influence how genetic predispositions express themselves.
While your DNA remains the same, the expression of certain genes can be “turned on or off” by environmental factors—a field known as epigenetics. Even if you have a family history of depression, you might never develop it if you have a healthy support system or effective coping skills.
Is Mental Illness a Nature vs. Nurture Thing?
As mentioned, mental illness can be triggered by the environment (nurture), while genetics (nature) usually comes into play as a vulnerability factor. It’s more accurate to see mental illness as a both/and scenario—nature and nurture—rather than strictly one or the other.
The causes of mental disorders are multifaceted, and researchers suggest an interaction between genetics and a person’s environment, which applies not just in mental health but in many areas of human development.
Nurture-Based Risk Factors
Several environment-related influences can lead to mental health problems, such as:
- Trauma: Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse during childhood can increase the chance of developing mental illnesses.
- Stressful home environment: Frequent conflicts, divorced parents, or unhealthy home relationships can take a toll on mental well-being.
- Emotional disturbance: Bullying, peer pressure, or a lack of social support can be detrimental to a person’s mental health.
- Substance abuse: Excessive use of alcohol or drugs can both stem from and contribute to mental health issues.
- Traumatic life experiences: Loss of a loved one, financial hardships, accidents, or exposure to violence can trigger mental disorders.
Nature-Based Risk Factors
Genetic factors that can contribute to mental illness include:
- Epigenetic regulation: This can affect how you react to environmental factors that may influence the development of a mental disorder. Epigenetics may switch genes on or off.
- Genetic polymorphisms: Individual differences in DNA makeup (genetic polymorphisms) can increase susceptibility to certain mental illnesses, especially in tandem with environmental stressors.
Nature vs. Nurture in Therapy
Counselors may use two approaches—nature-based or nurture-based—in treating patients. Most often, treatment is a blend of the two.
- Nature-based approach: Addresses mental health issues at a genetic or biological level. Medications such as anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs target chemical imbalances in the brain—biological factors that occur naturally inside the body.
- Nurture-based approach: Focuses on beliefs, behaviors, and experiences. Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), examines how a person’s upbringing and life experiences influence their current mental state.
Do You Have More Questions?
If you have more questions or are concerned about whether your mental wellness problem is nature- or nurture-based, you can talk to a therapist about this. No one can provide more professional insight than a licensed mental health practitioner. If you’re from Kentucky or Ohio and want someone to talk to, the therapists and counselors at Kentucky Counseling Center (KCC) can help you understand the origins of your issues.
Included in KCC’s services are:
- Anxiety counseling
- Depression counseling
- Adult counseling
- Family counseling
- Teen counseling
- Individual counseling
- Adolescent counseling
- LGBTQ counseling
- Couples counseling
- Group counseling
KCC offers online telehealth counseling services via online appointments. Now you can easily access counseling or therapy using your mobile phone, desktop, or tablet. Each KCC therapist, counselor, and psychiatrist is highly trained, professional, certified, and experienced in providing optimal mental health care for Kentucky and Ohio residents. Whether you’re questioning your mental health or experiencing depression or anxiety, get in touch with the Kentucky Counseling Center now. You can schedule an appointment now with KCC Direct Services.
