Increase in Gas Prices Associated with Increase in Child Maltreatment
Washington University in St. LouisIncreases in gasoline prices are associated with increases in child maltreatment referral rates, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.“Because fluctuations in the price of gas affect the amount of disposable income available to families, the results suggest that changes in disposable income predict changes in child maltreatment,” said Michael McLaughlin, doctoral student and author of the study “Less Money, More Problems: How Changes in Disposable Income Affect Child Maltreatment,” published in the upcoming May issue of the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.