Locating economic risks for adolescent mental and behavioral health: Poverty and affluence in families, neighborhoods, and schools

Citation

Coley, Rebekah Levine; Sims, Jacqueline; Dearing, Eric; & Spielvogel, Bryn (2018). Locating economic risks for adolescent mental and behavioral health: Poverty and affluence in families, neighborhoods, and schools. Child Development. vol. 89 (2) pp. 360-369

Abstract

Research has identified risks of both poverty and affluence for adolescents. This study sought to clarify associations between income and youth mental and behavioral health by delineating economic risks derived from family, neighborhood, and school contexts within a nationally representative sample of high school students (N = 13,179, average age 16). Attending schools with more affluent schoolmates was associated with heightened likelihoods of intoxication, drug use, and property crime, but youth at poorer schools reported greater depressive and anxiety symptoms, engagement in violence, and for male adolescents, more frequent violence and intoxication. Neighborhood and family income were far less predictive. Results suggest that adolescent health risks derive from both ends of the economic spectrum, and may be largely driven by school contexts.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12771

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Child Development

Author(s)

Coley, Rebekah Levine
Sims, Jacqueline
Dearing, Eric
Spielvogel, Bryn

Year Published

2018

Volume Number

89

Issue Number

2

Pages

360-369

Edition

February 28

ISSN/ISBN

1467-8624

DOI

10.1111/cdev.12771

Reference ID

7342