Child socioeconomic status, childhood adversity and adult socioeconomic status in a nationally representative sample of young adults

Citation

Suglia, Shakira F.; Saelee, Ryan; Guzmán, Iridian A.; Elsenburg, Leonie K.; Clark, Cari Jo; Link, Bruce G.; & Koenen, Karestan C. (2022). Child socioeconomic status, childhood adversity and adult socioeconomic status in a nationally representative sample of young adults. SSM - Population Health. vol. 18 , PMCID: PMC9118918

Abstract

Introduction Numerous studies have examined the consequences of childhood adversity (CA) and socioeconomic status (SES) for health over the life course. However, few studies have examined the relation between childhood SES and CA as well as the influence of CA on adult SES. The objective of this study was to examine direct and indirect associations between childhood SES, CA and adult SES. Methods Participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, (N = 6844) reported on nine CA experiences. Childhood SES was characterized as a composite measure of parental highest education level, median household income, and parental occupational status. Adult SES was characterized as composite measure of highest education level attained at age 37, median household income and occupation. Results In mediation analyses, adjusted for age, race and sex pathways were noted in that lower child SES was associated with CAs and CAs were associated with lower adult SES. Furthermore, CAs partially mediated the relation between childhood SES and adult SES. The proportion mediated by CA was small and only noted among African-American (4%) and White participants (5%). Conclusions Childhood SES is associated with CAs. In turn, CAs are associated with lower adult SES, independent of childhood SES supporting the notion that intervening on CAs early on in the lifecourse could influence health and wellbeing throughout the life course.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101094

Keyword(s)

Adversity

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

SSM - Population Health

Author(s)

Suglia, Shakira F.
Saelee, Ryan
Guzmán, Iridian A.
Elsenburg, Leonie K.
Clark, Cari Jo
Link, Bruce G.
Koenen, Karestan C.

Year Published

2022

Volume Number

18

ISSN/ISBN

2352-8273

DOI

10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101094

PMCID

PMC9118918

Reference ID

9676