Mortality in offspring with parental criminal convictions: A population-based register study from Sweden

Parental offending behavior is associated with poorer child mental and physical health, but less in known about its association with child mortality. Further, research is focused on the United States, which is unique in its societal structure and mass incarceration.

Using population-based register data on all births in Sweden in 1973-2013 (N = 4.2 million) and Cox regressions, we examined the associations of mother's and father's non-violent and violent criminal convictions with offspring all-cause and cause-specific mortality in infancy, childhood, and adolescence.

Parental convictions were associated with increased offspring all-cause mortality in infancy (11-39% higher mortality risk compared to children without parental convictions), ages 1-9 (11-47% higher risk), and ages 10-19 (12-78% higher risk). Parental convictions were associated with heightened risk of death due to infections and communicable diseases among infants and in ages 10-19 (44-100% higher risk), with accident mortality until age 19 (31-178% higher risk), and with suicide mortality among 10-19-year-old children (26-112 % higher risk). Mortality risks were higher among children of parents with violent convictions and among children whose mothers had convictions.

In addition to more severe offending behavior, non-violent parental convictions were also associated with offspring mortality. Cause-specific mortality patterns indicate that the associations may involve parental as well as children's own behavior. Comprehensive and long-term measures and support are needed to prevent intergenerational adversity related to parental offending.