IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/socsci/v99y2018i2p599-615.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Early Trouble, Long†Term Consequences: Does Family Instability Keep People from Doctors?

Author

Listed:
  • Ethan J. Evans
  • Bill McCarthy
  • Cecilia Benoit
  • Mikael Jansson

Abstract

Objectives This study assesses the impact of family instability during childhood on adult intentions to seek healthcare when depressed or in pain, adding to research on the long†term consequences of family instability and on care seeking. Methods Logistic regression is used with survey data collected from nearly 600 service workers in Sacramento, CA and Victoria, British Columbia. Results Adults who experienced high levels of familial disruption, defined as five or more changes, during childhood are less likely to say that they would seek healthcare when experiencing mental and physical distress. This pattern is independent of a number of demographic attributes, mediating mechanisms, mental and physical health status, and health†care access. Conclusions Family instability in childhood has long†term consequences for health†care seeking intentions. This instability within a primary social institution, the family, may shake the very foundation upon which trust in other institutions is formed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ethan J. Evans & Bill McCarthy & Cecilia Benoit & Mikael Jansson, 2018. "Early Trouble, Long†Term Consequences: Does Family Instability Keep People from Doctors?," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 99(2), pages 599-615, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:99:y:2018:i:2:p:599-615
    DOI: 10.1111/ssqu.12448
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12448
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/ssqu.12448?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:99:y:2018:i:2:p:599-615. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0038-4941 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.