title: Social consequences of early socioeconomic adversity and youth BMI trajectories: gender and race/ethnicity differences.
abstract: The present study investigated the mediating effects of adolescent BMI trajectories on socioeconomic continuity over the early life course using a nationally representative sample of 11,075 respondents. This study considered both the initial severity as well as change over time in BMI as psycho-physiological mediators. Consistent with the life course pathway model and the cumulative advantage and disadvantage principle, the results suggested that early socioeconomic adversity is associated with youth BMI trajectories over time, which in turn, impair young adult socioeconomic attainment. The results also revealed important gender and racial/ethnic differences in the hypothesized associations. These findings elucidate how early adversity exerts an enduring long-term influence on social attainment in young adulthood. Further, the findings suggest that effective obesity intervention and prevention programs should focus not only on the severity of obesity but also on growth in BMI over the early years.
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Science, The University of Georgia, 107 Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: dbae@uga.edu.
authors: Dayoung
authors: D
authors: Bae
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Science, The University of Georgia, 107 Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: wickrama@uga.edu.
authors: K A S
authors: KA
authors: Wickrama
authors: Department of Human Development and Family Science, The University of Georgia, 107 Dawson Hall, 305 Sanford Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Electronic address: cwalker1@uga.edu.
authors: Catherine Walker
authors: CW
authors: O'Neal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010290:Parents; D011203:Poverty; D011632:Public Assistance; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: BMI trajectories; Early socioeconomic adversity; Young adult socioeconomic attainment