About 32% of weapon involvement, 23% of contact with police at age 17 were attributable to persistent poverty and family adversity, according to new study
Children exposed to poverty and family adversity in their early years were more likely to use a weapon and have contact with police in adolescence in the UK, a study revealed Tuesday.
Compared with children who experienced low poverty and family adversity throughout childhood, those exposed to persistent poverty and poor parental mental health were at notably increased risk of carrying weapons and reporting contact with police, said the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), a longitudinal survey conducted by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) at the University of London.
Approximately 32% of weapon involvement and 23% of contact with police at age 17 were attributable to persistent poverty and family adversity, according to the study.
Exposure to poverty and poor parental mental health throughout childhood doubles the risk of weapon involvement and police contact in early adulthood.
This emphasizes the importance of life course and anti-poverty approaches to reducing involvement in crime in the UK, suggested the research, focusing on the impact of family childhood adversity on risk of violence and involvement with police in adolescence.
The researcher noted that the prevalence of weapon involvement was 8.6%, and contact with police was 27.8% for children in the persistent poverty and poor parental mental health trajectory group, compared with 5.0% and 17.2%, respectively, for children in the low adversity and poverty trajectory group.
"Children who experienced both persistent poverty and poor parental mental health were more than five times more likely to be arrested or taken into police custody, three times more likely to be warned or cautioned by police," the study said.
It added that children who experienced both persistent poverty and poor parental mental health are also twice as likely to be stopped and questioned by police compared with children exposed to low poverty and adversity throughout childhood.
The research suggested that there is a need for a "whole-system approach” and the implementation and strengthening of national and local policies focused on early intervention and support for families with low incomes and those experiencing family adversity.
"Addressing these issues comprehensively and syndemically earlier in the life course across multiple sectors, such as schools, communities, healthcare providers, and the law system, may reduce risk-taking behaviours in adolescence, ultimately contributing to better outcomes for young people," the study said.
