Citation
Wu, Shiyou de Saxe; Zerden, Lisa; & Wu, Qi (2016). The influence of childhood welfare participation on adulthood substance use: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. vol. 42 (6) pp. 657-670Abstract
BACKGROUND: The associations between early life-socioeconomic status and health, specifically substance use, are well substantiated. The vulnerabilities associated with adversity in childhood, particularly poverty, can have a cumulative effect on an individual's risk and resilience throughout the life course. While several studies substantiate the relationship between substance use and welfare participation, less known is the impact of and prevalence of behavioral health problems later in life among young adults who were welfare recipients before age 18. OBJECTIVE: This article explores whether childhood welfare participation before the age of 18 years influences substance use until young adulthood (24-34 years). METHODS: This study used Add Health data with sample sizes ranging from 12,042 to 12,324 respondents, and propensity score matching methods to balance the samples and account for selection bias. Matched data were then used to run a series of regression models. RESULTS: Those who participated in welfare before the age of 18 years had a significant lower probability of remaining substance-free until young adulthood (marijuana-free by 30%, p < 0.001; and other illicit substances-free by 16%, p < 0.05). However, no significant between-group differences were found on any of the alcohol-related variables. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight long-term behavioral health risks, especially substance use, faced by young adults who participated in welfare before the age of 18 years. Acknowledging the vulnerabilities associated with welfare participation and living in poverty could help increase the effectiveness of program and treatment efforts. The prevention of long-term behavioral health disorders hinges on early diagnosis and intervention.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080%2F00952990.2016.1176176Keyword(s)
Welfare participationNotes
1097-9891 Wu, Shiyou de Saxe Zerden, Lisa Wu, Qi Journal article Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2016 Jun 17:1-14.Reference Type
Journal ArticleJournal Title
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol AbuseAuthor(s)
Wu, Shiyou de SaxeZerden, Lisa
Wu, Qi