Childhood family income and life outcomes in adulthood: Findings from a 30-year longitudinal study in New Zealand

Sheree J. Gibb, David M. Fergusson and L. John Horwood

Social Science & Medicine, 2012, vol. 74, issue 12, 1979-1986

Abstract: The aims of this study were to use data gathered over the course of a 30-year longitudinal study to examine the linkages between economic circumstances in childhood and subsequent developmental outcomes spanning educational achievement; economic circumstances; crime; mental health; and teenage pregnancy. All of these outcomes have been linked with childhood economic conditions and it is frequently argued that reducing income inequalities will mitigate psychosocial risks of children reared in families facing economic hardship. Alternatively it may be suggested that the associations between childhood family economic circumstances and later outcomes are mediated by individual, family and social factors that are correlated with low family income and contribute to later outcomes. To examine these issues, data were drawn from a birth cohort of New Zealand children born in 1977 and followed to age 30.

Keywords: Childhood poverty; Income; Economic conditions; Educational achievement; Mental health; Offending; Longitudinal research; New Zealand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:12:p:1979-1986

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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.02.028

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