Association between childhood adversity and use of the health, social, and justice systems in Denmark

Childhood adversities can negatively affect health and social outcomes. We aimed to assess the association between adversity in childhood and use of public services in early adulthood across three systems: health, social welfare, and justice.

The researchers used Danish nationwide registry data on individuals born between 1980 and 1991 and followed up between 1998 and 2021. We evaluated annual exposure to adversity during childhood (age 0–16 years) across three dimensions—material deprivation, loss or threat of loss within the family, and family dynamics—and used this to divide individuals into five trajectory groups: low adversity, early-life material deprivation, persistent material deprivation, loss or threat of loss, and high adversity.

There were long-term effects of childhood adversities across three public service systems, with an association of high-intensity users among individuals who experienced childhood adversity. Systemic inequalities already present in childhood need to be addressed, with prioritisation of equitable resource allocation for those most in need of assistance.

Read the full Article published in The Lancet