Children in the West are becoming increasingly depressed because they are too materialistic, say researchers.

A study of youngsters aged between nine and 12 found those who believed happiness was linked to money, fame and beauty were more likely to suffer depression.

Among a group of 400 children, 16 reported levels of clinical depression while 112 were found to be vulnerable to depression in future, experts told the British Psychological Association's annual conference in Bournemouth.

The research, led by Dr Helen Street from Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre in Western Australia, focused on children's beliefs about happiness and how these related to their goals in life.

A significant relationship was identified between the children's understanding of happiness and their vulnerability to depression.

Depressed children were more likely to believe that happiness was something achieved through the acquisition of money, fame and beauty.

These children wanted to be rich and famous above all else in life.

Happier children were more inclined to believe that feeling good was about healthy attitudes and the experience of pursuing goals, whatever the outcomes might be.

They were more likely to seek positive relationships with others and to feel that they were developing personally through life.

Dr Street says, 'It is suggested that unhealthy conceptions of happiness as an outcome dependent upon the acquisition of wealth, fame and beauty are contributing to increasing levels of childhood depression in western society.

'Misconceptions of happiness as an outcome, rather than a process, lead to unhealthy motivations controlling goal settings and pursuit and a tendency to increasing levels of rumination and depression.