Family and Child Welfare

Adolescent disclosure protected against mental health issues and risk behaviours, while behavioural control helped prevent criminal behaviour. About one in five children was referred to Child Welfare Services, but referral patterns did not closely match self-reported severe exposure. Adolescent voluntary disclosure was the strongest predictor of parental knowledge about adolescents' activities. Socioeconomic factors such as single-parent household status and low income were important drivers of child welfare referral. Parental solicitation did not show the same protective effect and could worsen outcomes for some adolescents.