Turbulent times: effects of turbulence and violence exposure in adolescence on high school completion, health risk behavior, and mental health in young adulthood.
Turbulent social environments are associated with health and developmental risk, yet mechanisms have been understudied. Guided by a life course framework and stress theory, this study examined the association between turbulent life transitions (including frequent residential mobility, school transitions, family structure disruptions, and homelessness) and exposure to violence during adolescence and high school completion, mental health, and health risk behaviors in young adulthood. Participants (n = 4834) from the U.S. National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1997 cohort were followed prospectively from age 12-14 years for 10 years. We used structural equation models to investigate pathways between turbulence and cumulative exposure to violence (CEV), and high school completion, mental health, and health risk behaviors, while accounting for early life socio-demographics, family processes, and individual characteristics. Results indicated that turbulence index was associated with cumulative exposure to violence in adolescence. Both turbulence index and cumulative exposure to violence were positively associated with higher health risk behavior, poorer mental health, and inversely associated with high school completion. These findings highlight the importance of considering the cumulative impact of turbulent and adverse social environments when developing interventions to optimize health and developmental trajectory for adolescents transitioning into adulthood.
Division of General Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. renee.boyntonjarrett@bmc.org
Renée
R
Boynton-Jarrett
Elizabeth
E
Hair
Barry
B
Zuckerman
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D012931:Social Environment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult