The Harmful Effect of Child Maltreatment on Economic Outcomes in Adulthood

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) Vol. 108; no. 9; pp. 1134 - 1141
• Main Authors: Henry, Kimberly L, Fulco, Celia J, Merrick, Melissa T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Public Health Association 01.09.2018
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Adolescent; Adolescent development; Adolescents; Adult; Adult Survivors of Child Abuse; Adults; AJPH Child Maltreatment; Birth Order; Caregivers; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child care; Child development; Childhood; Children; Correlation analysis; Depression; Drug abuse; Drugs; Economic Status; Educational attainment; Educational Status; Families & family life; Family Health; Female; Humans; Interviews; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Maternal and Infant Health; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Mental health services; New York; Other Child and Adolescent Health; Panel data; Parents; Parents & parenting; Prevention; Psychopathology; Public health; Sex crimes; Sexual abuse; Social services; Socioeconomic factors; Substance abuse; Substance-Related Disorders; Teenagers; Trauma; Victims; New York
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2018.304635

To examine the effect of maltreatment during childhood on subsequent financial strain during adulthood and the extent to which this effect is mediated by adolescent depressive symptoms, adolescent substance abuse, attenuated educational achievement, and timing of first birth. We specified a multilevel path model to examine the developmental cascade of child maltreatment. We used data from a longitudinal panel study of 496 parents participating in the Rochester Intergenerational Study, in Rochester, New York. Data were collected between 1988 and 2016. Child maltreatment had both a direct and indirect (via the mediators) effect on greater financial strain during adulthood. Maltreatment has the capacity to disrupt healthy development during adolescence and early adulthood and puts the affected individual at risk for economic difficulties later in life. Maltreatment is a key social determinant for health and prosperity, and initiatives to prevent maltreatment and provide mental health and social services to victims are critical.