Welfare Dependence Significantly Linked to Abuse in Early Stages of Life

Child abuse – whether physical, sexual or neglect – is a major social challenge and public health issue. The effects of abuse in youth permeate into adulthood, including higher rates of financial hardship.

The research “Childhood Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adulthood, and Welfare Receipt by Midlife,” published in the February 2023 issue of Pediatrics (published online Feb. 7), reveals early abuse may represent an independent pathway to economic adversity, which could severely impact later generations. The study featured almost 1,700 participants – more than half who are female. In total, roughly 22% of people reported abuse in childhood only, nearly 15% in young adulthood only, and almost one-fifth in both. The types of childhood abuse researched were physical, sexual, and both. Female participants experienced significantly higher rates of sexual abuse, and both physical and sexual abuse than males (18.8% vs. 4.3%, and 12.0% vs. 4.0%, respectively) and were more likely to experience both childhood abuse and violence from an intimate partner. The number of people who received welfare from ages 23-37 years was higher in those reporting childhood abuse than no abuse as a child. Those with both physical and sexual abuse in childhood fared worse than with either type alone. Victims of both childhood abuse and young adulthood intimate partner violence had the highest rates of financial hardship, with almost 15% on welfare for one to two years and just under 17% for five or more years. Severe physical abuse alone or combined with sexual abuse increased the risks for long-term welfare use independently of family socioeconomic background.

The study concluded that prevention and targeted identification of initial and further abuse, along with support programs, have the potential to improve economic outcomes and reduce societal costs of welfare support.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.