Impact of family childhood adversity on risk of violence and involvement with police in adolescence: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study

Adjei, Nicholas Kofi ORCID: 0000-0002-0644-1881, Jonsson, Kenisha Russell, Opoku-Ware, Jones, Yaya, Sanni, Chen, Yanhua, Bennett, Davara, Mcgovern, Ruth, Munford, Luke, Black, Michelle ORCID: 0000-0002-8358-9150 and Taylor-Robinson, David ORCID: 0000-0002-5828-7724 (2025) Impact of family childhood adversity on risk of violence and involvement with police in adolescence: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, 79 (6). pp. 459-465. ISSN 0143-005X, 1470-2738

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Abstract

Background Childhood adversities, such as exposure to parental mental illness, domestic violence and abuse, substance use, and family poverty, have been linked to involvement in violence in early adulthood. However, evidence on the cumulative impact of multiple adversities throughout childhood on violence and crime in adolescence remains scarce. This study investigates the associations between trajectories of family adversity and poverty during childhood, and the risk of involvement in violence and contact with police in adolescence. Methods We used longitudinal data from the UK Millennium Cohort Study on 9316 children. Exposure trajectories of family adversities and poverty were characterised (from ages 0-14 years) using group-based multi-trajectory models. The outcomes were weapon involvement, for example, carrying a knife, and police contact measured at age 17 years. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) and population attributable fractions were estimated using logistic regression models, adjusting for confounding factors. Results The prevalence of weapon involvement and contact with police at age 17 years were 6.1% and 20.0%, respectively. 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 (adjusted OR (aOR) 2.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.6) and reporting contact with police (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.8). We estimate that about 32% of weapon involvement and 23% of contact with police at age 17 were attributable to persistent poverty and family adversity. Conclusion Exposure to poverty and poor parental mental health throughout childhood doubles the risk of weapon involvement and police contact in early adulthood. These findings emphasise the importance of lifecourse and anti-poverty approaches to reducing involvement in crime in the UK.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	POVERTY, ADOLESCENT, COHORT STUDIES, CLUSTER ANALYSIS
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Jan 2025 10:11
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 05:52
DOI:	10.1136/jech-2024-223168
Open Access URL:	https://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2025/01/03/jech...
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3189827
Disclaimer:	The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.