Financial Strain and Child Health: Measures and Evidence From a Systematic Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Social Determinants of Health
• Health Equity

Background:

• Limited research exists on financial strain's impact on children, despite its role in social needs.
• Financial strain involves challenges in meeting basic needs, affecting well-being.
• Understanding financial strain is crucial for addressing pediatric health disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review literature on self-reported financial strain measures in U.S. children and adolescents.
• To examine the relationship between financial strain and various health and behavioral outcomes.
• To synthesize findings based on age and the type of financial strain measure used.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search conducted in PubMed, PsychINFO, and Web of Science.
• Two blinded reviewers screened 65 papers (39 studies) and extracted data.
• Financial strain measures were coded for content and findings synthesized by age and measure type.

Main Results:

• Financial strain measures included lack of money for basic needs, difficulty making ends meet, financial worry, and lack of funds for leisure.
• Financial strain was linked to poorer health, more behavioral issues, lower academic performance, and increased depressive symptoms in children and adolescents.
• Associations remained consistent across diverse samples and various financial strain measures, including single-item questions.

Conclusions:

• Consistent associations between financial strain and pediatric health underscore the need to address financial strain for health equity.
• Simple financial strain questions demonstrate predictive validity for identifying at-risk children.
• Interventions targeting financial strain are essential for improving pediatric health and well-being.