Experience of Child–Parent Separation and Later Risk of Violent Criminality

Abstract

IntroductionSeparation from a parent during childhood has been linked with heightened longer-term violence risk, but it remains unclear how this relationship varies by gender, separation subgroup, and age at separation. This phenomenon was investigated by examining a wide array of child–parent separation scenarios.MethodsNational cohort study including individuals born in Denmark, 1971–1997 (N=1,346,772). Child–parent separation status was ascertained each year from birth to 15th birthday, using residential addresses from the Danish register. Members were followed up from their 15th birthday until the date of first violent offense conviction, or December 31, 2012. Incidence rate ratios were estimated using survival analyses techniques. Analyses were conducted during 2016–2017.ResultsSeparation from a parent during childhood was associated with elevated risk for subsequent violent offending versus those who lived continuously with both parents. These links were attenuated but persisted after adjustment for parental SES. Associations were stronger for paternal than for maternal separation at least up until mid-childhood and rose with the number of separations. Separation from a father for the first time at a younger age was associated with higher risks than if paternal separation first occurred at an older age, but there was little variation in risk associated with age at first maternal separation. Increasing risks were linked with rising age at first separation from both parents.ConclusionsViolence prevention should include strategies to tackle a range of correlated familial adversities, with promoting a stable home environment being one salient aspect.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Risk of Subsequently Engaging in Self-Harm and Violence towards Other People—“Dual Harm”

“…This extensive evidence-base enables services to be designed to meet the needs of individuals who present to services following self-harm. Similarly, risk factors for violent behavior in the general population [ 7 , 8 , 9 ] and in people with a history of mental illness [ 10 ] are well established. However, evidence concerning the etiology of both behaviors co-occurring in the same individuals (which from now on we refer to as “dual harm”) is sparse [ 11 ].…”

Family structure and alcohol use disorder: a register‐based cohort study among offspring with and without parental alcohol use disorder

“…families where both parents are present) (1,2). Multiple studies have documented that offspring from non-intact families generally fare worse in relation to wellbeing (3-6), violence, delinquency, self-harm (7)(8)(9)(10) and mental health (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18) compared with offspring from intact families.…”

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Risk of Subsequently Engaging in Self-Harm and Violence Towards Other People – ‘Dual Harm’

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9] This extensive evidence-base enables services to be designed to meet the needs of individuals who present to services following self-harm. Similarly, risk factors for violent behavior in the general population [10,11] and in people with history of mental illness [12] are well-established. However, evidence concerning the etiology of both behaviors co-occurring in the same individuals (which from now on we refer to as 'dual harm') is sparse.…”