Health, stress, and well-being in Swiss adult survivors of child welfare practices and child labor: Investigating the mediating role of socio-economic factors

With widespread deprivation in the education of minors affected by child welfare practices (CWP) last century, individuals often continued a life dominated socio-economic disadvantage. According to course theories, impact disadvantage can accumulate across span, leading worse health later life. However, scientific examination correlates CWP and mediating role factors (SEF) has previously been neglected. This study examined whether Swiss survivors CWP, including former Verdingkinder, have poorer compared controls, this association is mediated factors: education, income, satisfaction with financial situation, status. Two face-to-face interviews were conducted N = 257 participants (risk group, RG, n 132, MAGE 70.83 years, 58 % male; control CG, 125, 70.6 49 male). A broad set physical outcomes, stress, well-being, SEF assessed psychometric instruments. The RG reported more illnesses, vascular risk factors, symptoms, lower CG. Mediation analyses revealed that relevant mediators for significant stress disparities between groups. Results suggest play crucial mitigating negative effects impairments formerly CWP. Public services policies target these could improve current providing opportunities overcome early-life facilitating healthier trajectories.