Associations Between Child Labour, Child Discipline and Psychosocial Functioning of Children and Adolescents in Laos

Abstract

Introduction: Although the increased risks of child labour and parental discipline on children's psychosocial functioning are well-documented in various settings, there is a paucity of data addressing these associations in Laos. This research aims to investigate the prevalence of child labour and parental discipline and their potential associations with psychosocial difficulties among children and adolescents aged 5–14 years. Methods: This study employed data from the 2023 Laos Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a nationally representative cross-sectional dataset. Multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations between child labour, child discipline and different categories of psychosocial functioning difficulties. Adjusted odds ratios were estimated controlling for potential confounders, including children's age, mother's education, sex, residential area, wealth index and ethnicity. Results: A considerable proportion of children and adolescents experienced disciplinary practices, with 73.8% exposed to nonviolent forms and 65.6% to violent disciplinary methods. Overall, 15.8% of children were identified as having at least one psychosocial functioning difficulty. Engagement in child labour was significantly associated with five out of 10 psychosocial difficulties (aORs: 1.28–3.75; 95% CIs: 1.05–5.26; p-values < 0.02). Non-violent discipline was significantly associated with seven out of 10 psychosocial functioning difficulties (aORs: 1.72–2.68; 95% CIs: 1.03–4.30; p-values < 0.02). Additionally, exposure to psychological aggression was significantly associated with impairments in seven out of 10 psychosocial domains (aORs: 1.49–2.16; 95% CIs: 1.11–3.06; p-values < 0.02). Moderate physical aggression was significantly associated with four out of 10 psychosocial difficulties (aORs: 1.49–1.83; 95% CIs: 1.12–2.81; p-values < 0.01), while severe physical punishment was significantly associated with severity in four out of 10 domains (aORs: 1.48–1.59; 95% CIs: 1.02–2.29; p-values < 0.02). Conclusions: The findings highlight strong associations between exposure to psychological and physical disciplinary practices, as well as child labour, and a wide range of psychosocial functioning difficulties among children and adolescents. These results underscore the urgent need for interventions aimed at reducing harmful disciplinary practices and child labour to support children's well-being.