Paid Family Leave and Infant Maltreatment Risk: A Scoping Review of Socioecological Factors

Abstract

Infants under one year of age experience the highest risk of maltreatment, yet few studies examine how policy can prevent harm during this critical developmental period. This scoping review investigates the potential of state-level paid family leave (PFL) policies to reduce maltreatment risk by supporting family well-being. Thirty-eight studies published between 2013 and 2023 were analyzed using a socioecological framework. Findings suggest that access to PFL is associated with improved child and parent health, increased family stability, and mixed labor market outcomes. While most studies did not directly assess maltreatment, findings align with known risk and protective factors, offering insight into how PFL may operate as a primary prevention strategy during the perinatal and early childhood periods.

Keywords

paid family leave prevention medical diagnoses and interventions children and families family systems and functioning infant maltreatment systems theory

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