Parents’ socioeconomic position, psychological problems, and emotional neglect in childhood

Abstract

Abstract Background Despite high prevalence and severe consequences for health and wellbeing, emotional neglect (EN) in childhood is a neglected topic in epidemiological research. To enable prevention of neglect knowledge is important about conditions related to EN such as parental individual characteristics and social/economic situation. Aim to investigate the relationship between parental socioeconomic position (SEP), psychological problems, and EN in childhood. Methods The sample comprised Swedish women, N = 976, mean age 22. EN was assessed by five indicators: maternal/paternal rejection, maternal/paternal lack of time, and occurrence of domestic violence. The associations between parental SEP/psychological problems and EN were examined by logistic regressions. Results The odds of experiencing domestic violence in childhood was higher among women with parents with low (OR 3.1 95% CI 1.1-8.5) or medium SEP (OR 3.4 95% CI 1.7-6.9). Women who reported maternal psychological problems had higher odds of maternal rejection (OR 6.8 95% CI 3.5-13.0), maternal lack of time (OR 2.4 95% CI 1.2-5.0) and paternal rejection (OR 1.9 95% CI 1.1-3.5). Women who reported paternal psychological problems had higher odds of perceiving their father as rejecting (OR 4.0 95% CI 2.1-7.7), not having enough time for them (OR 4.9 95% CI 2.3-10.6), and experiencing domestic violence (OR 4.9 95% CI 2.1-11.6). Conclusions Lower SES was not related to EN in form of parental rejection or lack of time but to the occurrence of domestic violence. Parental psychological problems were related to all indicators of EN but differently among mothers and fathers. Public health initiatives aiming at supporting parents should also embrace parental psychological wellbeing. Key messages Emotional neglect was clearly related to parental psychological problems but not parental socioeconomic status. Gendered structures need to be considered in studies of emotional neglect.