Cumulative risk of compromised physical, mental and social health in adulthood due to family conflict and financial strain during childhood: a retrospective analysis based on survey data representative of 19 European countries

Abstract

BackgroundChildhood adversity (CA) has previously been linked to various health problems in adulthood. Investigations into the differential impact of distinct types of CA on a wide range of outcomes are scarce. This study aimed to assess the impact of self-reported childhood family conflict and/or financial strain on health and social functioning in adulthood among Europeans, while taking into account the mediating role of adulthood socioeconomic disadvantage (SED) in these associations.MethodsUsing the European Social Survey (ESS) collected in 2014, nationally representative cross-sectional data from 35 475 participants aged 15 years and older in 19 European countries were analysed. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess associations of retrospectively reported family conflict and/or financial strain in childhood with physical and mental health as well as health behaviours and social functioning in adulthood.ResultsA quarter of the European population reported having experienced family conflict, financial strain or both in childhood. Financial strain was reported more among older age groups and conflict more among younger age groups. A dose-response pattern with increased risk was demonstrated for almost all physical, behavioral, mental and social outcomes for these aspects of CA compared with no CA, with the highest risk observed in those who experienced both financial strain and family conflict. Adulthood SED mediated a significant proportion of the associations with financial strain (ranging from 5.4% to 72.4%), but did not mediate the associations with conflict.ConclusionIndividuals reporting family conflict or financial strain during childhood are at increased risk of developing a wide range of health and social problems. Those who report financial strain in childhood are more likely to experience SED in adulthood, which in turn increases their risk of experiencing health and social problems. Reported family conflict during childhood conferred increased risk of health and social problems, but adulthood SED did not appear to operate as an indirect pathway.

Cumulative Social Disadvantage and Health-Related Quality of Life: National Health Interview Survey 2013-2017

“…On the other hand, and relevant to the present study, it implies the aggregation of individual socioeconomic factors in a snapshot (12). Although previous studies have demonstrated single measures of socioeconomic disadvantage at the individual and community levels to be associated with lower HRQoL (31–34), fewer had evaluated their cumulative contributions (17,35,36). Our findings expand the literature in this field by using a 47-variable construct of cumulative social disadvantage to assess its association with HALex, a generic HRQoL measure with construct validity and low administrative burden.…”

The Long Arm of Childhood: Does It Vary According to Health Care System Quality?

“…There is even reason to suspect that health care quality may have a stronger buffering effect on childhood disadvantage than on forms of disadvantage manifest during adulthood. Health trajectories are decades in the making, and adult SES may not adequately reflect the cumulative impact of economic or social exposures across the life course (Santini et al 2021). However, the health care system can intervene at any point in the life course to redirect poor health trajectories brought on by childhood disadvantage.…”

Influence of Psychological Factors in Breast and Lung Cancer Risk – A Systematic Review

“…Psychological and emotional distress from exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), adverse life events, or traumatic stressors can cause psychological trauma and associated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pathological grief, and depression ( Kessler et al, 2010 ; Trickey et al, 2012 ; Wang et al, 2018 ). Risk factors for the severity of impact of adverse/traumatic events include: prior trauma ( Breslau et al, 1999 ; Hughes et al, 2017 ); gender ( Tolin and Foa, 2006 ; Gallo et al, 2018 ); age ( Willis et al, 2018 ); individual vulnerability ( Bomyea et al, 2012 ); heredity factors ( Koenen et al, 2002 ; Bomyea et al, 2012 ; Wang et al, 2018 ); family or social functioning and support ( Boscarino, 1995 ; Trickey et al, 2012 ; Stevens and Jovanovic, 2019 ); and, social variables such as ethnic, demographic, and socioeconomic factors ( Kosidou et al, 2011 ; Santini et al, 2021 ), among others. One or more of these risk factors can lead to psychopathology and physical disease.…”

“…Physical disease has already been linked to the psychological factors of trauma, grief, and depression, and associated with higher rates of autoimmune disease, metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease, respiratory disease, and some cancers ( Boscarino, 2004 ; Miller et al, 2011 ; Hughes et al, 2017 ; Lopes et al, 2020 ; Santini et al, 2021 ). This risk is associated to the physiological alterations in neural, neuroendocrine, immune, and cardiovascular systems ( Boscarino, 2004 ; Bomyea et al, 2012 ).…”