How Early Socioeconomic Adversity Combines With BMI-Linked Genetics to Launch Adverse Developmental Processes Leading to Economic Hardship

Citation

Wickrama, Kandauda; O’Neal, Catherine Walker; & Lee, Tae Kyoung (2021). How Early Socioeconomic Adversity Combines With BMI-Linked Genetics to Launch Adverse Developmental Processes Leading to Economic Hardship. Emerging Adulthood.

Abstract

The present study used a sample of 9,100 youth from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to identify how early socioeconomic adversity and BMI-related genetics combine to influence youth BMI and academic achievement/failure across successive life stages (i.e., adolescence, emerging adulthood, young adulthood), resulting in adverse economic outcomes in young adulthood. The results indicate that early socioeconomic adversity and BMI-related genetics initiate additive, cascading, and cumulative processes through BMI and academic achievement leading to economic hardship after accounting for relevant demographic and contextual variables, including race/ethnicity. Importantly, the BMI-related polygenic score revealed a moderate genetic influence on youth BMI and academic achievement at each life stage. The findings highlight the need to inform longitudinal health and obesity research with molecular genetic information.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968211034354

Keyword(s)

academic achievement

Notes

(K.A.S.)

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Emerging Adulthood

Author(s)

Wickrama, Kandauda
O’Neal, Catherine Walker
Lee, Tae Kyoung

Year Published

2021

ISSN/ISBN

2167-6968

DOI

10.1177/21676968211034354

Reference ID

9496