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Childhood Instability as a Central Risk Factor for Child Maltreatment: A Scoping Review
Olivia D Chang1, Yujeong Chang2, Yinqi Chen1
1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Childhood instability, encompassing various forms like residential and economic changes, significantly increases the risk of child abuse and neglect, especially for younger children. Understanding this multifaceted construct is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Family instability and unpredictability are known risk factors for child abuse and neglect.
- Child maltreatment is a significant public health concern with long-term consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and evaluate existing evidence on the association between childhood instability and the risk of maltreatment.
- To identify different dimensions of childhood instability and their impact on maltreatment risk.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review of peer-reviewed empirical articles was conducted.
- Studies were identified through systematic searches across three electronic databases.
- Inclusion criteria focused on statistical analyses of the relationship between instability and child maltreatment.
Main Results:
- 64 articles were included, examining various forms of instability: residential (23), economic (11), relational (11), housing (10), school (6), and psychological (4).
- Childhood instability is a multifaceted construct consistently associated with increased risk of abuse and neglect.
- The association between instability and maltreatment risk was more pronounced in younger children.
Conclusions:
- Childhood instability is a dynamic factor implicated in the etiology of child maltreatment.
- A unified conceptual framework integrating multiple dimensions of instability is needed for precise risk models.
- Findings highlight the importance of addressing family instability to protect vulnerable children.
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