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Life-course financial strain and health in African-Americans

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  • Szanton, Sarah L.
  • Thorpe, Roland J.
  • Whitfield, Keith

Abstract

Differential exposure to financial strain may explain some differences in population health. However, few studies have examined the cumulative health effect of financial strain across the life-course. Studies that have are limited to self-reported health measures. Our objective was to examine the associations between childhood, adulthood, and life-course, or cumulative, financial strain with disability, lung function, cognition, and depression. In a population-based cross-sectional cohort study of adult African-American twins enrolled in the US Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging (CAATSA), we found that participants who reported financial strain as children and as adults are more likely to be physically disabled, and report more depressive symptoms than their unstrained counterparts. Participants who reported childhood financial strain had lower cognitive functioning than those with no childhood financial strain. We were unable to detect a difference in lung function beyond the effect of actual income and education in those who reported financial strain compared to those who did not. Financial strain in adulthood was more consistently associated with poor health than was childhood financial strain, a finding that suggests targeting adult financial strain could help prevent disability and depression among African-American adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Szanton, Sarah L. & Thorpe, Roland J. & Whitfield, Keith, 2010. "Life-course financial strain and health in African-Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 259-265, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:71:y:2010:i:2:p:259-265
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    4. Dackehag, Margareta & Ellegård, Lina Maria & Gerdtham, Ulf-G & Nilsson, Therese, 2018. "Social Assistance and Mental Health: Evidence from Longitudinal Data on Pharmaceutical Consumption," Working Papers 2018:2, Lund University, Department of Economics.
    5. Hsiu-Fen Lin & Judy L. Postmus & Hongwei Hu & Amanda M. Stylianou, 2023. "IPV Experiences and Financial Strain Over Time: Insights from the Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Analysis," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 434-446, June.
    6. Simckes, Maayan & Willits, Dale & McFarland, Michael & McFarland, Cheryl & Rowhani-Rahbar, Ali & Hajat, Anjum, 2021. "The adverse effects of policing on population health: A conceptual model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    7. Gindo Tampubolon, 2015. "Growing Up in Poverty, Growing Old in Infirmity: The Long Arm of Childhood Conditions in Great Britain," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Tampubolon, Gindo, 2010. "Recall error and recall bias in life course epidemiology," MPRA Paper 23847, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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