Adversse Childhood Experiences in Firstborns Associated with Poor Mental Health of Siblings

CHILDREN ARE NEARLY THREE-QUARTORS (71%) MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 5 AND 18, IF THE FIRSTBORN CHILD IN THEIR FAMILY EXPERIZENCE DURING THEIR 1.000 DAYS, FINDS A NEW STUDY LED BY UCL Researchers.

The First-Of-Its-Kind Study, Published in The Lancet Public Health, Found That Mothers WhinSe Firstborns Had Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences Had A 71% Emreaded Risk of Having Children

This translates to 12 additional children with mental health problems for every 100 mothers work firsee firsborn experienced adversity.

These Findings Underscore the Person Risk That Early Adversity Can have on Multiple Children, and the Importance of Early Identification and Sustained Support for Vulnerable Families Beyond The First 1,000 Days of A Child’s Life.

As parts of the Study, Researchers Analyzed Linked GP and Hospital Health Records from 333,048 First-Time Mots and Their 534,904 Children (Firstborns and Siblings) Born in England Between 2002 and 2018. In the Firstborn Child Recorded During Their First 1.000 Days of Life (From Conception Up Until The Age of Two).

These Included: Child Maltreatment, Intimate Partner Violence, Maternal Substance Misuse, Maternal Mental Health Problems, Adverse Family Environments (Eg Homelessness), and High-Risk Presentations of Child Maltreatment (EG Unexplained Child Injuries).

Over a third (37.1%) of Firstborn Children Had at Least One Recorded Adverse Childhood Experience. The Most Common Adverse Childhood Experiences Were Living With Maternal Mental Health Problems (21.6%), FolloWed by Adverse Family Environments (14.5%) Such as Parental Criminity and Housing Instability.

APPROXIMATELY ONE IN FIVE (19.8%) MOTHERS HAD AT LAST ONE CHILD WITH A Recorded Mental Health Problem Between The AGES OF 5 AND 18.

MOTHERS WHOE FIRSTBORNS Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences Had Significantly More Children with Mental Health Problems (avenue of 30 per 100 mothers) Compred to mothers, hows of 17 per 100 mothers).

The Risk of Mental Health Problems was consistent across all siblings, Regardless of Birth Order (Firstborn vs. Thirdborn), in families where the Firstborn Experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Children in families where the firstborn Experienced Adversity Also Had 50% more emergence hospital admission for any reason and double the Amount of Mental Health-Relanted Health Care Contacts.

Lead Author Dr. Shabeer Syed (UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), Said, “While Previous Research has focused on the impact of adverse Childhood Experiences on Individual Children, our Study Reveals A Cascading Health Risk That Extends Beyops The Individual, Impacting On the Health of Siblings As Well.

“This Likely Stems from the Continue of Adverse Childhood Experiences Within the Family. When a Child or Parent Presents With Mental Health Concerns, Violence or Operse of Adversity, It’s Essential to Ask About the Wider Family Context.”

Professor Jessica Deighton (UCL Psychology & Language Sciences, and Anna Freud, Mental Health Charity for Children and Young People) Said, “With Scale Rates of Children and Young People in Contact With Mental Health Services, Early and Effective Prevention Strategies Are the Key to improving well-being.

“These Findings Indicate That, When We Encounter Children Facing Significant Challenges Like Domestic Abuse Or Poverty, We Must Expand Our Focus to the Whole Family, Including Siblings. This will be help to ensure all and Young People Within fear Ive Appropriate Care The Early Possible them.

“To Achieve this, We Want To See Increeded Funding for Prevention Schemes and Harness Community Assets – Such AS GPS and Local Organizations – Which are crucial for Helping to Identify and Meet The Needs of Vulnerable Young People. There Should Also Be, In Partnership with, Diverse groups of Children and Young People, The Development of A Comprahensive, Cross-Government Mental Health Prevention Strategy. “

AS A Result of Their Findings, The Team Are Also Calling for Further Research Intu the Impact of Early Health Visiting and Primary Care Support.

Senior Author, Professor Ruth Gilbert (Ucl Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health), Said, “Prevention of Childhood Mental Health Problems Through Support in Early Life for Parents and Their First and Subsequent Children Cour Potentially Benefit Multiple Family Members.

“Research is Needed to Assess Whether Early Community Support From Health Visitors, GPS and Practical Parenting Support for Family First or Subsequent Children are affected by adverse Childhood Experiences Mental Problems Later in Childhood.”

Co-Author, Professor Gene Feder (University of Bristol Center for Academic Primary Care), Said, “General Practice Teams Have a Key Role in Identify First-Born Children Experiencing Adverse Experiences And in Supporting First-Time Parents to Help The Impact Of adverse childhood experiences on the Whole Family, including subsequent Children.

“We Need Further Evidence for Effective Interventions to Reduce That Impact, Particularly on Mental Health.”

Study Limitations

The Researchers Could Not Investigate Adverse Childhood Experiences Related to Fathers’ Mental Health or Substance Use the Health Care Data From Fathers Could Not Be Linked To Their Children.

The Study Found That Adverse Childhood Experiences In Firstborns Were Associated with Mental Health Outcomes in the First and Subsequent Children, But this Does Not necessarary Mean That Adverse Childhood Experiences Cause Mental HEALTH PROBLEMS.

ADDITIONALLY, Electronic Health-Care Records Underrestimate Intimate Partner Violence and Child Maltreatment Due to Non-Deccosure and/Or Detection and Under-Recording By Clinicians.