Why is lower family socio-economic status associated with conduct problems in children and adolescents? A systematic review of longitudinal studies

Socio-economic status (SES) has been extensively linked to child and adolescent conduct problems (CP). Understanding the origins of this link is important for informing policy to reduce social inequalities. Potential competing explanations have been investigated and a comprehensive review of the strength of this evidence is required to inform progress towards an integrated model of the underlying mechanisms. We systematically searched ten databases for studies published in English between 1960 and 2025. The eligibility criteria included a quantitative design, a community sample of children or adolescents, measures of SES and CP, longitudinal analyses of the association between SES and CP, and results informing on the potential mechanisms. We identified 38 papers that met the eligibility criteria, comprising 41 individual studies included in the review. Family stress pathways were the most frequently studied mechanisms; however, the results were mixed. There was some support for pathways involving warm and supportive parenting and somewhat weaker support for supervision and discipline pathways. Investment pathways involving cultural/educational resources, neighbourhood characteristics, and models incorporating family stress and investment pathways were found to have received considerable support. There was also evidence that factors such as child’s diet and associations with antisocial peers may contribute. These findings support an integrated model of the mechanisms linking SES and CP. This model can provide targets for interventions aiming to reduce CP inequalities and sets the agenda for research to elucidate the mechanisms further.