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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ruth McGovernORCiD, Professor Eileen KanerORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2023 Society for Adolescent Health and MedicinePurpose: Exposure to parental mental ill-health and poverty in childhood impact health across the lifecourse. Both maternal and paternal mental health may be important influences, but few studies have unpicked the complex interrelationships between these exposures and family poverty for later health. Methods: We used longitudinal data on 10,500 children from the nationally representative UK millennium cohort study. Trajectories of poverty, maternal mental health, and secondary caregiver mental health were constructed from child age of 9 months through to 14 years. We assessed the associations of these trajectories with mental health outcomes at the age of 17 years. Population-attributable fractions were calculated to quantify the contribution of caregivers' mental health problems and poverty to adverse outcomes at the country level. Results: We identified five distinct trajectories. Compared with children with low poverty and good parental mental health, those who experienced poverty and poor primary or secondary caregiver mental health (53%) had worse outcomes. Children exposed to both persistent poverty and poor caregiver mental health were at markedly increased risk of socioemotional behavioural problems (aOR 4.2; 95% CI 2.7–6.7), mental health problems (aOR 2.5; CI 1.6–3.9), and cognitive disability (aOR 1.7; CI 1.1–2.5). We estimate that 40% of socioemotional behavioural problems at the age of 17 were attributable to persistent parental caregivers' mental health problems and poverty. Discussion: More than half of children growing up in the UK are persistently exposed to either one or both of poor caregiver mental health and family poverty. The combination of these exposures is strongly associated with adverse health outcomes in the next generation.
Author(s): Adjei NK, Schluter DK, Melis G, Straatmann VS, Fleming KM, Wickham S, Munford L, McGovern R, Howard LM, Kaner E, Wolfe I, Taylor-Robinson DC
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Adolescent Health
Year: 2024
Volume: 74
Issue: 1
Pages: 60-70
Print publication date: 01/01/2024
Online publication date: 11/10/2023
Acceptance date: 28/07/2023
Date deposited: 26/10/2023
ISSN (print): 1054-139X
ISSN (electronic): 1879-1972
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.029
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.07.029
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