TY - JOUR

T1 - Is parental unemployment associated with increased risk of adverse childhood experiences? A systematic review and meta-analysis

AU - Judd, Natasha

AU - Hughes, Karen

AU - Bellis, Mark

AU - Hardcastle, Katie

AU - Amos, Rebekah

N1 - © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

PY - 2023/11/29

Y1 - 2023/11/29

N2 - BackgroundUnemployment has adverse consequences for families and can put children at risk of harm. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of global evidence on associations between parental unemployment and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).MethodsSystematic literature searches across four databases identified cross-sectional, cohort or case–control studies measuring associations between parental employment and individual or cumulative ACEs in children. Available risk estimates were extracted and pooled odds ratios calculated using random-effects models.ResultsOf 60 included studies, 37 provided risk estimates suitable for pooling across seven ACE types. Paternal/any parental unemployment was associated with a 29% increased risk of sexual abuse, 54% increased risk of neglect, 60% increased risk of physical abuse and around 90% increased risk of child maltreatment and parental mental illness. No associations were found between maternal unemployment and ACEs. Pooling estimates from representative general population studies also identified increased risk of child maltreatment with paternal/any parental unemployment (82%) but not maternal unemployment.ConclusionsChildren who grow up with parental unemployment can be at increased risk of ACEs. A combination of socioeconomic measures to increase employment opportunities and parental support targeting fathers and mothers may help break multigenerational cycles of abuse and deprivation.

AB - BackgroundUnemployment has adverse consequences for families and can put children at risk of harm. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of global evidence on associations between parental unemployment and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).MethodsSystematic literature searches across four databases identified cross-sectional, cohort or case–control studies measuring associations between parental employment and individual or cumulative ACEs in children. Available risk estimates were extracted and pooled odds ratios calculated using random-effects models.ResultsOf 60 included studies, 37 provided risk estimates suitable for pooling across seven ACE types. Paternal/any parental unemployment was associated with a 29% increased risk of sexual abuse, 54% increased risk of neglect, 60% increased risk of physical abuse and around 90% increased risk of child maltreatment and parental mental illness. No associations were found between maternal unemployment and ACEs. Pooling estimates from representative general population studies also identified increased risk of child maltreatment with paternal/any parental unemployment (82%) but not maternal unemployment.ConclusionsChildren who grow up with parental unemployment can be at increased risk of ACEs. A combination of socioeconomic measures to increase employment opportunities and parental support targeting fathers and mothers may help break multigenerational cycles of abuse and deprivation.

KW - Adverse Childhood Experiences

KW - Child

KW - Child Abuse

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Humans

KW - Parents

KW - Unemployment

U2 - 10.1093/pubmed/fdad069

DO - 10.1093/pubmed/fdad069

M3 - Article

C2 - 37253685

VL - 45

SP - 829

EP - 839

JO - Journal of Public Health

JF - Journal of Public Health

SN - 1741-3842

IS - 4

ER -