Intergenerational Continuity of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Homeless Families: Unpacking Exposure to Maltreatment Versus Family Dysfunction

Despite the expanding research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and corpus of studies on intergenerational maltreatment in high-risk families, studies have not examined intergenerational ACEs more broadly, much less in severely disadvantaged families. 

This study investigated the intergenerational continuity of ACEs in mothers and young children aged 4 to 6 years living in emergency homeless shelters. It also examined whether unpacking ACEs into categories of exposure to maltreatment versus family dysfunction affected intergenerational continuity patterns or child socioemotional problems in school. 

Negative parenting, in the form of observed inept coercive discipline with children, and cumulative sociodemographic risk were examined as additional predictors of child ACEs and socioemotional problems. 

Mothers (N = 95; aged 20-45; 64.2% African American, 3.2% African Native, 11.6% Caucasian, 7.4% biracial/multiracial, and 13.6% other) completed questionnaires on parent and child ACEs and cumulative risk factors. They participated in videotaped parent-child interactions rated for observed coercive discipline, and teachers provided reports of children's socioemotional problems. 

Results indicated that higher parental ACEs predicted higher child ACEs, with higher numbers of parental ACEs in either category (maltreatment or family dysfunction) predicting higher levels of child ACEs in both categories. However, child exposure to maltreatment, but not family dysfunction, significantly predicted elevations in children's socioemotional problems. 

Findings underscore the role of intergenerational childhood adversity in homeless families and also emphasize that unpacking ACEs in children may illuminate key areas of vulnerability for school adjustment. 

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By:  Narayan AJ, Kalstabakken AW, Labella MH, Nerenberg LS, Monn AR, Masten AS.

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Characteristics & Health of Homeless Families: The ENFAMS Survey in the Paris Region, France 2013

The objectives were to estimate the size of homeless family population in Paris region, to describe their living conditions and health and to analyse the impact of homelessness on children's growth and development, which was never investigated in France.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of homeless sheltered families in 2013. Families were interviewed in 17 languages and a nurse took anthropometric measures, blood samples and collected health data from child health reports.

The population size was estimated at 10 280 families. Half were single-parent female families and 94% were born outside France. Most families had experienced housing instability and 94% were living below the poverty line (828 euros/month). Malnutrition was a major problem: the prevalence of food insecurity was high (77% of parents and 69% of children), as well as anaemia (50% of mothers and 38% of children), overweight (38% of mothers and 22% of children) and obesity (32% of mothers and 4% of children). High rates of depressive disorders were found in 30% of homeless mothers and 20% of children had signs of possible mental health disorders.

These first results highlight the important number of families among the homeless population in Paris region. Families differed from other homeless people regarding social characteristics such as birthplace, single-parent status and residential instability that are likely to influence schooling, social ties, health and access to care. These results demonstrate the need for urgent actions targeting homeless families, in terms of reducing housing instability and providing adequate care, especially for children.

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By: Vandentorren S1, Le Méner E2, Oppenchaim N3, Arnaud A4, Jangal C5, Caum C2, Vuillermoz C6, Martin-Fernandez J6, Lioret S7, Roze M6, Le Strat Y8,Guyavarch E2.

• 1Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, Paris, France Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP UMRS 1136), F75012, Paris, France Institut de veille sanitaire, département des alertes et coordination des régions, Saint Maurice, France.
• 2Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, Paris, France.
• 3Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, Paris, France Université François Rabelais, Laboratoire Citeres, UMR CNS 7324, Tours, France.
• 4Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, Paris, France Institut de veille sanitaire, département des maladies infectieuses, Saint Maurice, France.
• 5Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, Paris, France Laboratoire Espace, Santé et Territoires, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, Nanterre, France.
• 6Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'épidémiologie et de Santé Publique (IPLESP UMRS 1136), F75012, Paris, France.
• 7Early ORigin of the Child's Health and Development Team (ORCHAD), INSERM, UMR1153 Epidemiology and Biostatistics Sorbonne Paris Cité Center (CRESS). Paris Descartes University, France.
• 8Institut de veille sanitaire, département des maladies infectieuses, Saint Maurice, France.  

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