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Socio-economic adversity and psychosocial adjustment: a developmental-contextual perspective

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  • Schoon, Ingrid
  • Sacker, Amanda
  • Bartley, Mel

Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold: firstly to investigate whether the association between childhood and adult psychosocial adjustment can be explained by socio-economic adversity experienced during childhood, and secondly to explore the role of family socio-economic disadvantage and psychological development in explaining adult social inequality in psychological well-being. A developmental-contextual perspective is adopted to analyse the pathways linking childhood experiences to adult functioning in a changing socio-historical context. The study draws on longitudinal data collected for two cohorts of about 30,000 individuals born in Great Britain 12 years apart. Structural equation modelling is used to assess the long-term influence of socio-economic adversity on psychosocial adjustment, and to compare different explanatory models of health inequalities. The results reject a simple selection or social causation argument, suggesting that both dynamics operate in life course development. The effects of social risk cumulate throughout the life course, influencing both behaviour adjustment during childhood and adult psychosocial functioning. It is concluded that the explanation of health differences in adult life must account for the reciprocal interaction between individual behaviour and social circumstances.

Suggested Citation

  • Schoon, Ingrid & Sacker, Amanda & Bartley, Mel, 2003. "Socio-economic adversity and psychosocial adjustment: a developmental-contextual perspective," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(6), pages 1001-1015, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:57:y:2003:i:6:p:1001-1015
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    Cited by:

    1. Yajing Zhu & Fiona Steele & Irini Moustaki, 2020. "A multilevel structural equation model for the interrelationships between multiple latent dimensions of childhood socio‐economic circumstances, partnership transitions and mid‐life health," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 183(3), pages 1029-1050, June.
    2. Zhu, Yajing & Steele, Fiona & Moustaki, Irini, 2017. "A general 3-step maximum likelihood approach to estimate the effects of multiple latent categorical variables on a distal outcome," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 81850, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Hatch, Stephani L. & Harvey, Samuel B. & Maughan, Barbara, 2010. "A developmental-contextual approach to understanding mental health and well-being in early adulthood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(2), pages 261-268, January.
    4. Ingrid Schoon & Gabriella Melis, 2019. "Intergenerational transmission of family adversity: Examining constellations of risk factors," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Lloyd, Jennifer E.V. & Hertzman, Clyde, 2009. "From Kindergarten readiness to fourth-grade assessment: Longitudinal analysis with linked population data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(1), pages 111-123, January.
    6. Strazdins, Lyndall & Shipley, Megan & Clements, Mark & Obrien, Léan V. & Broom, Dorothy H., 2010. "Job quality and inequality: Parents' jobs and children's emotional and behavioural difficulties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(12), pages 2052-2060, June.
    7. Siegfried Geyer, 2010. "Research on social determinants and health: what sorts of data do we need?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 55(1), pages 1-3, February.
    8. Lara Ayala-Nunes & Lucía Jiménez & Saul Jesus & Cristina Nunes & Victoria Hidalgo, 2018. "A Ecological Model of Well-Being in Child Welfare Referred Children," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 811-836, November.
    9. Zhu, Yajing & Steele, Fiona & Moustaki, Irini, 2020. "A multilevel structural equation model for the interrelationships between multiple latent dimensions of childhood socio‐economic circumstances, partnership transitions and mid‐life health," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103104, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Ng-Knight, Terry & Schoon, Ingrid, 2017. "Disentangling the Influence of Socioeconomic Risks on Children’s Early Self-Control," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 85(6), pages 793-806.
    11. Anderson, Lewis Robert, 2018. "Adolescent mental health and behavioural problems, and intergenerational social mobility: A decomposition of health selection effects," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 153-160.
    12. John Hobcraft, 2008. "The timing and partnership context of becoming a parent," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 19(34), pages 1281-1322.
    13. Carpiano, Richard M. & Lloyd, Jennifer E.V. & Hertzman, Clyde, 2009. "Concentrated affluence, concentrated disadvantage, and children's readiness for school: A population-based, multi-level investigation," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 420-432, August.
    14. Sarah Miller & Angela Eakin, 2011. "PROTOCOL: Home based child development interventions for pre‐school children from socially disadvantaged families," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11.

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