The Association Between Early Family Social Stressors and Emotional Well-Being Among Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

ObjectiveEarly childhood behavioral and emotional disorders are linked to diagnosable mental health problems both later in childhood and into adulthood. However, little work has examined the association between family social stressors and emotional well-being among children under two years of age, including whether differences exist between infancy and toddlerhood. MethodsData come from the nationally representative 2019–2022 National Health Interview Survey, an annual, cross-sectional survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Separate multivariate logistic regression models estimated associations between family social stressors (stressful life events, family food insecurity, family difficulty paying medical bills) and having a Baby Pediatric Symptom Checklist (BPSC) subscale score of 3 or more (“above the BPSC cutoff”) for poorer emotional well-being among children 2–23 months. Models were additionally stratified by age group (infants, 2–11 months; toddlers, 12–23 months), and adjusted for child and family sociodemographic and geographical characteristics. ResultsChildren who had experienced a stressful life event (AOR=3.83, 95% CI: 2.48–5.92), family food insecurity (AOR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.13–2.51), or family difficulty paying medical bills (AOR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.54–2.87) had higher odds of being above the BPSC cutoff, adjusted for all relevant covariates. Toddlers who experienced a stressful life event (66.5% vs 41.0%) or family difficulty paying medical bills (53.1% vs 29.8%) had higher odds of being above the BPSC cutoff compared with infants. ConclusionsFamily social stressors were linked to poorer emotional well-being among young children. Future research may benefit from the exploration of additional predictors of emotional well-being among this age group.