The Effects of parental neglect on behavioral and emotional problems in a child

Abstract

This paper examines the effects of parental neglect on behavioral and emotional problems in a child (1st grade cohort in elementary school) by using 5 years long-term follow-up survey in Korea. The survey had been conducted from 2010 to 2016, targeting 1st graders in elementary school and their parents (1st grade cohort includes 2,342 individuals at the initial survey in 2010). Based on data availability, this paper uses 5 years (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016) panel dataset, and empirical analysis is implemented based on the panel fixed effects model using a strongly balanced panel data set. Results show that parental neglect leads to behavioral and emotional problems in a child; depression has the largest and significant effect size among developmental outcomes. This study is expected to be used as basic data for expanding and improving domestic child welfare policy to protect neglected children and prevent them from vulnerable conditions.