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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shakira Suglia, Emory University; Ryan Saelee, Emory University; Iridian A Guzmán, Emory University; Leonie K Elsenburg, University of Copenhagen; Cari Clark, Emory University; Bruce G Link, University of California Riverside; Karestan C Koenen, Harvard University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-06-01
• Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101094
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: SSM-POPULATION HEALTH
• Volume: 18
• Start Page: 101094
• End Page: 101094
• Keywords: EXPERIENCES; Trauma; MALTREATMENT; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; OUTCOMES; RISK-FACTORS; Social determinants of health; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; INCOME; CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH; Lifecourse; ASSOCIATION; Science & Technology; DISPARITIES; CONSEQUENCES; VIOLENCE; Adversity
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Sociology, Public and Social Welfare

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.