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Stressful Life Events and Healthcare Utilization Among U.S. Children Aged 2-17 Years

Lindsey I Black, Amanda E Ng, Benjamin Zablotsky

    National Health Statistics Reports
    |August 28, 2023
    PubMed

    Insights

    One in five children experience stressful life events (SLEs), leading to increased healthcare use and unmet needs. This study highlights the impact of childhood adversity on healthcare access and utilization, emphasizing the need for monitoring.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatric Health
    • Public Health
    • Sociology

    Background:

    • Childhood stressful life events (SLEs) are linked to healthcare access issues.
    • Recent survey changes allow for tracking SLEs in children nationally.
    • Understanding these associations is crucial for public health initiatives.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine the latest estimates of SLEs in US children (ages 2-17).
    • To describe the association between SLEs and healthcare utilization.
    • To provide data for monitoring trends in childhood adversity and healthcare.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized data from the 2021 National Health Interview Survey.
    • Examined prevalence of SLEs (e.g., abuse, unmet needs, racism, household issues).
    • Used multivariate logistic regression to analyze associations with healthcare indicators, adjusting for demographics.

    Main Results:

    • One in five children aged 2-17 experienced at least one SLE in 2021.
    • SLEs were generally associated with higher healthcare utilization and unmet medical needs.
    • No significant link found between SLEs and lack of preventive care; mental health service use increased with SLEs.

    Conclusions:

    • Childhood SLEs are associated with increased healthcare utilization and unmet needs.
    • National Health Interview Survey data can track these trends over time.
    • Findings expand knowledge on the relationship between childhood adversity and healthcare access/utilization.

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