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Income inequality and child maltreatment risk during economic recession

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  • Schenck-Fontaine, Anika
  • Gassman-Pines, Anna

Abstract

While several studies have examined the link between economic downturns and child maltreatment, the evidence linking economic downturns to child maltreatment is not consistent and cannot be generalized to the U.S. as a whole. This study builds on prior literature by extending the investigation of this association to 48 of the 50 U.S. states using National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) data on child maltreatment reports from 2004 to 2013. Since the effects of economic recessions are not equally distributed in society, this study also examines whether the association between macroeconomic recessions (measured using large-scale involuntary job losses) and child maltreatment reports differs by the level of income inequality in states. Using a fixed-effects regression approach, we find that involuntary job losses are associated with increased rates of physical abuse reports, but not reports of other types of child maltreatment. We also find that the effects on reports on physical abuse and other types of maltreatment are largest in states with relatively low levels of income inequality. This surprising finding may be explained by the worse prospects of reemployment in low-inequality states, where families may experience more stress and uncertainty related to job losses.

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  • Schenck-Fontaine, Anika & Gassman-Pines, Anna, 2020. "Income inequality and child maltreatment risk during economic recession," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:112:y:2020:i:c:s019074091931014x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104926
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    2. Hiilamo, Aapo & Hiilamo, Heikki & Ristikari, Tiina & Virtanen, Petri, 2021. "Impact of the Great Recession on mental health, substance use and violence in families with children: A systematic review of the evidence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    3. Bullinger, Lindsey Rose & Raissian, Kerri M. & Feely, Megan & Schneider, William J., 2021. "The neglected ones: Time at home during COVID-19 and child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Janet Yuen-Ha Wong & Abraham Ka-Chung Wai & Man Ping Wang & Jung Jae Lee & Matthew Li & Jojo Yan-Yan Kwok & Carlos King-Ho Wong & Anna Wai-Man Choi, 2021. "Impact of COVID-19 on Child Maltreatment: Income Instability and Parenting Issues," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    5. Mohd Shahidan Shaari & Paul Anthony Mariadas & Benjamin Nangle & Abdul Rahim Ridzuan, 2021. "The Relationship between Economic Growth and Child Abuse in Malaysia," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(3), pages 1932-1946.
    6. William Schneider & Lindsey Rose Bullinger & Kerri M. Raissian, 2022. "How does the minimum wage affect child maltreatment and parenting behaviors? An analysis of the mechanisms," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 1119-1154, December.

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