Abstract: Developmental Effects of Household Adversity, Transitions, and Relationship Quality on Adult Outcomes of Socioeconomic Status (Society for Social Work and Research 22nd Annual Conference - Achieving Equal Opportunity, Equity, and Justice)

Schedule:

Thursday, January 11, 2018: 4:15 PM

Marquis BR Salon 7 (ML 2) (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)

* noted as presenting author

Amy L. Stevens, Research Analyst, National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies, Boys Town, NE

Todd I. Herrenkohl, PhD, Professor, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA

W Alex Mason, PhD, Director of Research, National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies,, Boys Town, NE

Gail L. Smith, PhD, Senior Research Analyst, National Research Institute for Child and Family Studies,, Boys Town, NE

Joanne Klevens, MD, PhD, Epidemiologist, Sexual Violence and Child Maltreatment Team, Research and Evaluation Branch, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Atlanta, GA

Melissa T Merrick, PhD, Behavioral Scientist, Surveillance Branch, Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention & Control, Atlanta, GA

Background and Purpose: The degree to which childhood household adversity, including conflict between parents, mental illness, and substance problems, predict poor adult socioeconomic outcomes is uncertain. Also uncertain is the influence of transitions (i.e., changes in parenting/caregivers, residences, schools) on adult functioning for children—particularly those at-risk for later problems due to abusive and neglectful parenting (maltreatment). This study examined predictors of adult income problems, education, and unemployment for a cohort of individuals, some of whom had been maltreated. The protective role of positive parent-child relationships was also investigated.

Methods: Data are from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study, in which participants were assessed from early childhood into the mid-30s. The original study sample (n = 457) was 54% male and 80.7% (n = 369) White, 11.2% (n = 51) more than one race, 5.3% (n = 24) Black or African American, 1.3% (n = 6) American Indian/Alaska Native, 1.3% (n = 6) unknown, and 0.2% (n = 1) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. At the initial assessment, 86% of the families were from two-parent households. About 60% of the sample would be considered poor according to the income-to-needs ratio and poverty threshold set by the United States Census Bureau in 1976. At the final (adult) wave of data collection, 80% (n= 357) of the original sample remained in the study. Multiple group path analysis tested the relationships between childhood household adversity, transitions, and adult socioeconomic outcomes for maltreated and non-maltreated children. Positive parent-child relationships was included as a moderator, and gender as a covariate.

Results:Household adversity was negatively associated with highest education level (β = -.53, p<.001) and positively associated with income problems (β = .30, p<.01) in adulthood for non-maltreated children only. For both groups (maltreated and non-maltreated), caregiver transitions was negatively associated with highest education level (maltreated: β = -.29, p<.01; non-maltreated: β = -.13, p<.01) and positively associated with unemployment problems (maltreated: β = .31, p<.01; non-maltreated: β = .21, p<.01). Positive parent-child relationships did not directly predict or moderate the effects of early adversity on the adult outcomes.

Conclusions and Implications: For children who did not experience maltreatment, reducing exposure to household adversity is an important goal for prevention. Reducing exposure to child maltreatment for all children remains an important public health priority. Results underscore the need for programs and policies that promote stable relationships and environments.