Family Instability Affects Children Beyond Childhood, Study Shows
By Adebowale Bello. B.Tech Microbiology, Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA team.
Image of a nail biting, anxious looking young African girl against a blue background with a caption saying: Unstable family affects children’s mental and physical wellbeing long-term. Click on image to enlarge. Photo credit: Freepik
In a small town near Kumasi, Ghana, Abena often woke up unsure of how her day would unfold. Some mornings she went to school with her mother, other times with a neighbour and on difficult days she missed school altogether. Dinner times shifted depending on whether food was available and she moved between relatives’ homes whenever her parents faced financial troubles. By the time Abena was in junior secondary school, teachers noticed she was easily distracted, sometimes withdrawn and often anxious.
Her story reflects the experience of many children across Africa and new research now shows that this kind of unpredictability in childhood does more than cause stress in the moment. It can leave lasting marks on a young person’s mental health and even physical wellbeing.
When a child’s daily life is filled with constant changes and uncertainty, it can affect how they think, behave and even how healthy they become as teenagers. A recent study has shown how unpredictable environments in early childhood can leave lasting marks on young people’s mental and behavioural health.
This research matters to us in Africa because many families face daily struggles that can disrupt children’s routines, from financial hardship to sudden changes in caregiving. Understanding how unpredictability affects children can help families and communities create safer and more stable spaces for young people to thrive.
The study, carried out by researchers from several American universities, followed children from birth into their teenage years. It drew on information from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which tracked nearly 5,000 children born between 1998 and 2000. Researchers focused on measuring environmental unpredictability. This was not about single events but about repeated changes in a child’s surroundings.
For example:
The children’s level of unpredictability was measured at ages 1, 3, 5 and 9. Later, when the children reached about 15 years, the researchers looked at their mental health, behaviour and general wellbeing.
Children who grew up in highly unstable environments had a greater chance of facing problems as teenagers. These included:
The researchers noted that unpredictability had an effect that was independent of poverty or other well-known risk factors. This means it is not only poverty that harms children, but also the instability and lack of consistency in their early lives.
What the Study Means to Africans
While the study was conducted in North America, the findings are relevant to African families and situations.
African families often face unique challenges that can create unstable environments. For instance, job insecurity, constant migration for work or as a result of civil wars or environmental catastrophes, parental separation and even frequent power cuts can disrupt routines at home. In many communities, children may also move between caregivers, living with grandparents, aunts or other relatives when parents face difficulties.
While African families are known for their strong sense of community and support systems, constant unpredictability in a child’s life can still take its toll. For example, if a child does not know who will take them to school, what and whether a meal will be available to eat at any given day, or whether they will have to change homes again, it builds stress and uncertainty. Over time this can harm their mental wellbeing and affect how they behave in school and in society.
This study reminds us that stability is not just about money. Even in low-income households, having routines and consistent caregiving can protect children from some of the harmful effects of unpredictability. Something as simple as regular meal times, clear rules in the home and dependable emotional support can make a difference.
While parents and caregivers may not always be able to control external hardships, there are small steps that can reduce unpredictability for children:
The study shows that unpredictability and instability in childhood is not a minor issue. It is a form of adversity that can shape the mental health and behaviour of young people well into their teenage years. While African families may not always control economic or political conditions, they can still work towards creating predictable and supportive environments for children.
Stability, no matter how simple, gives children the foundation they need to grow into healthy, confident and responsible adults. You as a parent or caregiver have a responsibility to provide your child or ward with stability in their growing up years.
Source: Koss KJ, Kronaizl S, Brown R, Brooks-Gunn J. Childhood Environmental Unpredictability and Adolescent Mental Health and Behavioral Problems. Child Dev, 2025;96:1424-1442. doi: 10.1111/cdev.14248. Available from here.
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Published: September 23, 2025
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