ERIC Number: EJ686699
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Feb
Pages: 16
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2445
EISSN: N/A
Economic Hardship in the Family of Origin and Children's Psychological Well-Being in Adulthood
Sobolewski, Juliana M.; Amato, Paul R.
Journal of Marriage and Family, v67 n1 p141-156 Feb 2005
Past research consistently indicates that poverty and economic hardship have negative consequences for children. Few studies, however, have examined whether these consequences persist into adulthood. This study addresses this gap by assessing whether economic resources in the family of origin have long-term effects on psychological well-being in adulthood. Specifically, we test two processes - one involving interpersonal processes in the family of origin, and the other involving children's socio-economic attainment - that may help to explain the link between early economic factors and later well-being. Using 17-year longitudinal data from two generations (N= 589), we find evidence that economic hardship in the family of origin predicts later adult well-being through the parents marital relationship, the parent-teen relationship, children's educational attainment, and children's earned income. Supplementary analyses suggest that economic hardship is particularly problematic when it is of long duration or when it occurs during adolescence.
Descriptors: Psychology, Poverty, Educational Attainment, Well Being, Income, Adults, Interpersonal Competence, Parent Child Relationship, Marital Satisfaction, Socioeconomic Status
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A