Exploring the Impact of Poverty on Child Well-being: A Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Health and Criminal Behaviours.

This study explores the associations between family poverty, mental health conditions, and criminal behaviours across different developmental stages-childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. It aims to provide evidence-based insights for policy and intervention development.

The study addresses three key research questions: 1) understanding the links between family poverty, mental health, and criminal behaviours at different developmental stages; 2) identifying mediating factors, such as child self-esteem, that may influence these associations; and 3) using counterfactual analysis to assess the impact of shifting financial conditions or other factors on the outcomes.

Data will be drawn from two large longitudinal studies, ALSPAC and the Millennium Cohort Study, involving 15,000 to 20,000 participants.

Advanced quantitative methods, including Growth Curve Modelling, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and counterfactual analysis, will be employed to analyse these associations and test potential protective factors.