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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Nov 29;45(4):829-839.
doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad069.

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

Natasha Judd  1   2 , Karen Hughes  1   2 , Mark A Bellis  2   3 , Katie Hardcastle  2 , Rebekah Amos  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Natasha Judd et al. J Public Health (Oxf). .

Abstract

Background: Unemployment 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).

Methods: Systematic 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.

Results: Of 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.

Conclusions: Children 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.

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences; child maltreatment; unemployment; violence.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of study selection. *Qualitative study, not individual-level data or not original research; #Or parental unemployment was not measured independently from other socioeconomic factors; ^Studied the prenatal/postnatal period only; ~With no comparison or control group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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