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Review
. 2023 Jan 17:1-11.
doi: 10.1007/s10896-022-00486-3. Online ahead of print.

Paid Family Leave: An Upstream Intervention to Prevent Family Violence

Lindsey Rose Bullinger  1 , Bart Klika  2 , Megan Feely  3 , Derek Ford  4 , Melissa Merrick  2 , Kerri Raissian  3 , Whitney Rostad  5 , William Schneider  6
Affiliations
Review

Paid Family Leave: An Upstream Intervention to Prevent Family Violence

Lindsey Rose Bullinger et al. J Fam Violence. .

Abstract

Purpose: Family violence imposes tremendous costs on victims and society. Rarely are policies focused on the primary prevention of family violence. Given the prevalence of family violence-including child maltreatment and intimate partner violence (IPV)-during the perinatal period, policies targeting this vulnerable time period may be successful in primary prevention. Paid family leave (PFL) programs provide income-replacement during particularly stressful family events, such as the birth of a child.

Method: In this commentary, we describe the conceptual links between PFL, child maltreatment, and IPV, suggesting that PFL may be a promising strategy for the primary prevention of child maltreatment and IPV.

Results: There is emerging evidence that policies targeting the early years of life may reduce child maltreatment and IPV.

Conclusion: Addressing the concrete and economic challenges faced by caregivers is one promising strategy for the prevention of family violence.

Keywords: Child Maltreatment; Economic Supports; Intimate Partner Violence; Paid Family Leave.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pathways Linking Paid Family Leave and Family Violence
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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