FAMILY CONFLICT AND SLOW GROWTH

Aims-Having previously observed that slow growth in childhood is assoc iated with subsequent labour market disadvantage, an attempt was made to determine whether family conflict is associated with slow growth to age 7 years, independently of material disadvantage. Methods-A total of 6574 children born between 3 and 9 March 1958 who were members of t he British National Child Development Study were used in these analyse s. Slow growth at age 7 years was indicated by short stature defined a s the lowest fifth of the height distribution. In multivariate analysi s, adjustment was made for fully attained adult height as a measure of genetically predetermined height. Results-A total of 31.1% of childre n who had experienced family conflict were of short stature compared w ith 20.2% of those who had not, representing relative odds of 1.79 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.39 to 2.30). After adjustment for social class, crowding, sex, and predetermined height, the relative odds were slightly reduced to 1.62 (95% CI 1.18 to 2.23). A total of 44.0% of c hildren from the most crowded households were of short stature compare d with 16.4% of those from the least crowded. The unadjusted relative odds were 3.99 (95% CI 2.94 to 5.41) and after adjustment for the pote ntial confounding variables they were 3.07 (95% CI 2.08 to 4.51). Low social class was also a risk for short stature at age 7 years, but thi s was not statistically significant after adjustment for the other con founding factors. Conclusions-Family conflict during childhood was ind ependently associated with slow growth to age 7 years.