Linking early social risks to impaired physical health during the transition to adulthood.
The present longitudinal study of 485 youth used structural equation models to investigate the ways in which a combination of social disadvantage in the family of origin and adolescent maladjustment increases risk for physical health difficulties during adulthood. The study examined a theoretical model that proposes that disruptions in the transition to adulthood mediate the effect of earlier social disadvantage and adolescent maladjustment on young adult physical health status. Results show that early risk factors initiate a sequence of negative influences on young adult physical health through early entry into family responsibility, truncated educational attainment, and poor occupational and economic status. These associations prevailed even after controlling for physical health status during adolescence.
Wickrama
K A S
KA
Institute for Social and Behavioral Research, 2625 North Loop Drive, Suite 500, Iowa State University Research Park, Ames, IA 50010-8296, USA.
Conger
Rand D
RD
Wallace
Lora Ebert
LE
Elder
Glen H
GH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011610:Psychosocial Deprivation; D012306:Risk; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors