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Unemployment and substance use problems among young adults: Does childhood low socioeconomic status exacerbate the effect?

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  • Lee, Jungeun Olivia
  • Hill, Karl G.
  • Hartigan, Lacey A.
  • Boden, Joseph M.
  • Guttmannova, Katarina
  • Kosterman, Rick
  • Bailey, Jennifer A.
  • Catalano, Richard F.

Abstract

The current study tested whether unemployment predicted young adults' heavy episodic drinking, cigarette smoking, and cannabis use after taking into account individual development in substance use. Furthermore, building on the life course perspective, this study examined whether the link between unemployment and substance use among young adults differed for those who experienced low childhood SES compared to those who did not. Data for the present study came from the Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP), a panel study examining a broad range of developmental outcomes from ages 10 to 33. A life history calendar (LHC) was administered to assess substance use and unemployment status during young adulthood. Covariates included baseline symptoms of psychopathology, baseline substance use, gender, ethnicity, and adult educational attainment. Results suggest that unemployment is associated with young adults' heavy episodic drinking and possibly cigarette use, but not cannabis use. Moreover, for all three substances, the detrimental impact of unemployment on substance use seems to be exacerbated among young adults who spent their childhood and adolescence in a lower SES household. Public health efforts that provide other viable and affordable options to cope with unemployment among young adults from low SES backgrounds are needed to address this disproportionate concentration of adverse impacts of unemployment on behavioral health.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Jungeun Olivia & Hill, Karl G. & Hartigan, Lacey A. & Boden, Joseph M. & Guttmannova, Katarina & Kosterman, Rick & Bailey, Jennifer A. & Catalano, Richard F., 2015. "Unemployment and substance use problems among young adults: Does childhood low socioeconomic status exacerbate the effect?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 36-44.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:143:y:2015:i:c:p:36-44
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.08.016
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    1. Andrabi, Nafeesa & Khoddam, Rubin & Leventhal, Adam M., 2017. "Socioeconomic disparities in adolescent substance use: Role of enjoyable alternative substance-free activities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 175-182.
    2. Michael Anastario & Olivia Ceavers & Paula Firemoon & Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli & Ana Maria Rodriguez, 2022. "Retrospective Assessment of Human–Chemical Interactions in Health-Disparity Populations: A Process Evaluation of Life History Calendars," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Boslett, Andrew & Hill, Elaine, 2022. "Mortality during resource booms and busts," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    4. Shahida Anusha Siddiqui & Prachi Singh & Sipper Khan & Ito Fernando & Igor Spartakovich Baklanov & Tigran Garrievich Ambartsumov & Salam A. Ibrahim, 2022. "Cultural, Social and Psychological Factors of the Conservative Consumer towards Legal Cannabis Use—A Review since 2013," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-22, September.
    5. Bijlsma, Maarten & Tarkiainen, Lasse & Myrskylä, Mikko & Martikainen, Pekka, 2017. "Unemployment and subsequent depression: A mediation analysis using the parametric G-formula," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 85335, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Boden, Joseph M. & Lee, Jungeun Olivia & Horwood, L. John & Grest, Carolina Villamil & McLeod, Geraldine F.H., 2017. "Modelling possible causality in the associations between unemployment, cannabis use, and alcohol misuse," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 127-134.
    7. Bijlsma, Maarten J. & Tarkiainen, Lasse & Myrskylä, Mikko & Martikainen, Pekka, 2017. "Unemployment and subsequent depression: A mediation analysis using the parametric G-formula," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 142-150.
    8. Jeong, Soyun & Fox, Ashley M., 2023. "Enhanced unemployment benefits, mental health, and substance use among low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).

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