A systematic review of the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect: Evidence from individual and family level studies

Abstract

Despite the growing consensus that there is a contributory causal relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect, no systematic review exists summarizing the magnitude, complexity, and degree of consensus of international research regarding the impact of individual and family level poverty on child maltreatment. A systematic review was therefore conducted investigating the relationship between individual and family level poverty and child abuse and neglect. Searches were conducted in Web of Science, Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed from 01.01.2016 through to 31.08.2023. The 24 studies examined in this review, focusing on various aspects of individual and family level socio-economic circumstances and dimensions of child abuse and neglect, consistently demonstrated a significant association. The association between individual and family level poverty and child abuse and neglect held true for a range of socio-economic contexts, including both low resource levels and for situations involving insecure or fluctuating resources. The impact of poverty on the likelihood of child abuse and neglect in many studies was substantial. This review provides a comprehensive resource for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers which should inform evidence-based interventions and policies addressing the multifaceted interplay between individual and family level poverty and child maltreatment.