Abstract
Purpose of Review
Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are associated with key risk factors for adult morbidity and mortality. Most interventions to date target proximal risk factors and do not account for the structural determinants shaping the risk of childhood adversity. This review summarizes recent findings regarding the impact of socioeconomic interventions on ACE.
Recent Findings
Thirty-five percent of reviewed socioeconomic interventions reported reductions in exposure to ACE. Effect sizes were modest for family financial problems, adverse parenting, household mental illness, child maltreatment and neglect; moderate to high for exposure to domestic violence, Home score, parental separation, childhood physical abuse and household criminality; and strongest for childhood victimization and substance abuse. Housing, conditional cash transfer and income supplementation interventions were the most promising interventions.
Summary
Current evidence suggests that upstream interventions can contribute to the reduction of ACE. Future research should expand this work beyond developed countries using robust evaluation designs.
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Funding
This study was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant agreement no. 633666).
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Emilie Courtin, Emily Allchin, and Richard Layte each declare no potential conflicts of interest.
Annie J. Ding reports European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (grant agreement no. 633666).
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Courtin, E., Allchin, E., Ding, A.J. et al. The Role of Socioeconomic Interventions in Reducing Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences: a Systematic Review. Curr Epidemiol Rep 6, 423–441 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-019-00216-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-019-00216-2