Risk Factors for Maltreatment of Adolescents in Asia: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.
Shiqin Liu, Huiping Zhang
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This systematic review examined risk factors for adolescent maltreatment in Asian settings. Searches of seven databases identified 24 studies from nine Asian countries published before May 3, 2024. Reported correlates spanned individual, family, school, neighborhood, and migration-related factors. Parental substance use and addictive behaviors, economic hardship, non-traditional family structures, poor family relationships, and negative parenting patterns were consistently associated with maltreatment. The review also found that evidence on broader societal and cultural influences was scarce, while findings on pandemic effects and intergenerational transmission remained preliminary.
Key findings
- The review included 24 studies from nine Asian countries, identified through searches of seven databases.
- Parental substance use and addictive behaviors consistently predicted adolescent maltreatment.
- Economic hardship, non-traditional family structures, poor family relationships, and negative parenting patterns were associated with maltreatment.
- Evidence on macrosystem factors was scarce; findings on COVID-19 impacts and intergenerational transmission were preliminary.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that adolescent maltreatment is associated with risks across multiple ecological levels, rather than a single domain. This can help frame prevention and assessment around individual, family, school, and community contexts. However, the evidence base is uneven, particularly for societal, cultural, and policy influences, limiting how confidently these factors can guide prevention planning.
What to keep in mind
The review reports that longitudinal research is needed to establish causal relationships; evidence on macrosystem influences is scarce, and chronosystem findings are preliminary.