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The Great Recession and risk for child abuse and neglect

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  • Schneider, William
  • Waldfogel, Jane
  • Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne

Abstract

This paper examines the association between the Great Recession and four measures of the risk for maternal child abuse and neglect: (1) maternal physical aggression; (2) maternal psychological aggression; (3) physical neglect by mothers; and (4) supervisory/exposure neglect by mothers. It draws on rich longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal birth cohort study of families in 20 U.S. cities (N=3177; 50% African American, 25% Hispanic; 22% non-Hispanic white; 3% other). The study collected information for the 9-year follow-up survey before, during, and after the Great Recession (2007–2010). Interview dates were linked to two macroeconomic measures of the Great Recession: the national Consumer Sentiment Index and the local unemployment rate. Also included are a wide range of socio-demographic controls, as well as city fixed effects and controls for prior parenting. Results indicate that the Great Recession was associated with increased risk of child abuse but decreased risk of child neglect. Households with social fathers present may have been particularly adversely affected. Results also indicate that economic uncertainty during the Great Recession, as measured by the Consumer Sentiment Index and the unemployment rate, had direct effects on the risk of abuse or neglect, which were not mediated by individual-level measures of economic hardship or poor mental health.

Suggested Citation

  • Schneider, William & Waldfogel, Jane & Brooks-Gunn, Jeanne, 2017. "The Great Recession and risk for child abuse and neglect," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 71-81.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:72:y:2017:i:c:p:71-81
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.10.016
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    4. Dan Brown & Elisabetta De Cao, 2017. "The Impact of Unemployment on Child Maltreatment in the United States," Economics Papers 2017-W04, Economics Group, Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
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    6. Cai, Julie Yixia, 2021. "Earnings instability and child protection: Evidence from state administrative data," SocArXiv y825p, Center for Open Science.
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    12. Watson, Barry & Kong, Nancy & Phipps, Shelley, 2022. "Dreaming of a Brighter Future? The Impact of Economic Vulnerability on University Aspirations," IZA Discussion Papers 15539, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Eleftheria Spyropoulou & Theodore Koutroukis, 2021. "Managing Open School Units Amid COVID-19 Pandemic through the Experiences of Greek Principals. Implications for Current and Future Policies in Public Education," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, July.
    14. Piraino, Catalina & Santelices, María Pía & Escobar, María Josefina & Oyarce, Daniela & van Bakel, Hedwig Johanna Antonia, 2024. "Parental burnout in the context of the socio-health crisis and its relationship with abuse and neglect," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    15. Elisabetta De Cao, 2017. "The Impact of Unemployment on Child Maltreatment in the United States," Economics Series Working Papers 837, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
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    17. Bettio, Francesca & Tavares, Fernando Flores & Ticci, Elisa, 2024. "Intimate partner violence during lockdown in Tuscany, Italy: economic shock or confinement-related stressors?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1507, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    18. Quetsch, Lauren B. & Jackson, Carrie B. & Onovbiona, Harlee & Bradley, Rebecca, 2022. "Caregiver decision-making on young child schooling/care in the face of COVID-19: The influence of child, caregiver, and systemic factors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).

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