Background

Housing insecurity increases risk for child maltreatment, although links from specific domains of housing hardship to specific maltreatment types are not well understood.

Objective

The present study tested relationships between three domains of housing - quality, stability, and affordability – with three types of child maltreatment – psychological abuse, physical abuse, and neglect – in a sample of mothers with children age 5–9.

Participants and setting

Data came from a large, longitudinal survey that recruited mothers in hospitals shortly after giving birth in 20 large American cities; five follow-up interviews occurred over 15 years. The analytic sample was limited to mothers who retained at least partial custody when children were aged 5 and 9 and participated in the In-Home sub-study (N = 1804).

Methods

A measurement model fit using confirmatory factory analysis estimated six latent constructs, while a path analysis estimated links from each housing domain to each maltreatment type.

Results

Housing affordability was associated with reduced psychological and physical abuse (β = −1.10, p < 0.05 and β = −0.66, p < 0.05 respectively), but not with neglect. Neither housing quality nor stability had any significant association with any maltreatment type. The only significant predictor of neglect was maternal depression.

Conclusions

Housing affordability in particular may protect against maltreatment, but other domains of housing insecurity appear to have little to no effect controlling for other household factors. Findings highlight the need for increased affordable housing supply, as well as mental health supports for families cost-burdened by meeting basic needs.

中文翻译：

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住房不安全的领域：与虐待儿童风险的关联

背景

住房不安全增加了虐待儿童的风险，尽管从住房困难的特定领域到特定虐待类型的联系尚不清楚。

客观的

本研究以 5-9 岁儿童的母亲为样本，测试了住房质量、稳定性和可负担性这三个领域与三种类型的儿童虐待（心理虐待、身体虐待和忽视）之间的关系。

参与者和设置

数据来自一项大型纵向调查，该调查在 20 个美国大城市招募了分娩后不久在医院的母亲；在 15 年内进行了五次后续访谈。分析样本仅限于在孩子 5 岁和 9 岁时至少保留部分监护权并参与家庭子研究的母亲（N  = 1804）。

方法

使用验证性工厂分析拟合的测量模型估计了六个潜在构造，而路径分析估计了从每个住房领域到每种虐待类型的联系。

结果

住房负担能力与减少心理和身体虐待有关（分别为β  = -1.10，p < 0.05 和β  = -0.66，p < 0.05），但与忽视无关。住房质量和稳定性都与任何虐待类型没有任何显着关联。忽视的唯一重要预测因素是母亲抑郁症。

结论

住房负担能力尤其可以防止虐待，但住房不安全的其他领域似乎对控制其他家庭因素几乎没有影响。调查结果强调了增加经济适用房供应的必要性，以及为满足基本需求而承受成本负担的家庭提供心理健康支持。