TY - JOUR

T1 - Child socioeconomic status, childhood adversity and adult socioeconomic status in a nationally representative sample of young adults

AU - Suglia, Shakira F.

AU - Saelee, Ryan

AU - Guzman, Iridian A.

AU - Elsenburg, Leonie K.

AU - Clark, Cari Jo

AU - Link, Bruce G.

AU - Koenen, Karestan C.

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Adversity

KW - Trauma

KW - Lifecourse

KW - Social determinants of health

KW - CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

KW - RISK-FACTORS

KW - EXPERIENCES

KW - OUTCOMES

KW - INCOME

KW - CONSEQUENCES

KW - MALTREATMENT

KW - ASSOCIATION

KW - DISPARITIES

KW - VIOLENCE

U2 - 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101094

DO - 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101094

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 35601218

VL - 18

JO - SSM - Population Health

JF - SSM - Population Health

SN - 2352-8273

M1 - 101094

ER -