How Does Experience of Violence in Childhood Affect Work Outcomes? A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.
Clare Tanton, Jodie Pearlman, Katherine Merrill et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and narrative synthesis examined longitudinal evidence on childhood and adolescent violence and later work outcomes. It included 46 reports from 27 cohorts, all but one based in high-income countries. The review found strong evidence that childhood violence is associated with a range of negative work outcomes. Evidence was strongest for official reports of abuse and neglect, physical violence, bullying, and composite measures, while findings for sexual violence were more mixed. Associations appeared similar for men and women; educational factors may partly mediate the relationship.
Key findings
- The review included 46 reports from 27 cohorts; all but one cohort came from a high-income country.
- Evidence strongly linked childhood violence with negative work outcomes, particularly for official abuse and neglect reports, physical violence, bullying, and composite measures.
- Findings were more mixed for sexual violence, with less evidence for emotional violence, witnessing violence, neglect, and adolescent intimate partner violence.
- Nine reports examined mediation; educational factors may partly mediate the association, with cognition, mental health, and noncognitive skills also possible mediators.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that the consequences of childhood violence may extend into adult working life, alongside its health and economic effects. Recognising this broader association can inform understanding of long-term impacts and the potential pathways involved. However, the evidence base is concentrated in high-income countries, and proposed mediators remain insufficiently studied.
What to keep in mind
Evidence came almost entirely from high-income countries, and mediation analyses were reported in only nine reports.