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Early-life family income and subjective well-being in adolescents

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  • Genevieve Gariepy
  • Frank J Elgar
  • Mariane Sentenac
  • Christopher Barrington-Leigh

Abstract

Purpose: Subjective well-being (SWB) in youths positively relates to family income, however its association with income during childhood is unclear. Using longitudinal data from the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (n = 2234 adolescents, age 12–19 years), we examined whether the timing and duration of low family income in childhood was associated with adolescent SWB. Methods: We categorized family income during childhood into state-specific quintiles. Adolescent SWB was assessed using a 12-item questionnaire (score range 3–18). We used marginal structural modelling to test for sensitive periods of exposure to low income and tested cumulative effects of income by modelling the number of years spent in the poorest income quintiles. Results: A period in early childhood (age 0–2 years) was particularly sensitive to low family income. Adolescent SWB was 1.65 (95% CI 0.40, 2.91) points lower in those who grew up in the poorest income quintiles during early childhood compared with the top quintile. Further, each childhood year spent in the poorest income quintiles was associated with a 0.10 point (95% CI 0.04, 0.16) lower SWB score in adolescence. Conclusions: The timing and duration of low family income in childhood both predict individual differences in adolescent SWB. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of these models and inform public policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Genevieve Gariepy & Frank J Elgar & Mariane Sentenac & Christopher Barrington-Leigh, 2017. "Early-life family income and subjective well-being in adolescents," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-11, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0179380
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179380
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haiyang Lu & Peng Nie & Alfonso Sousa-Poza, 2021. "The Effect of Parental Educational Expectations on Adolescent Subjective Well-Being and the Moderating Role of Perceived Academic Pressure: Longitudinal Evidence for China," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(1), pages 117-137, February.
    2. Nathaniel W. Anderson & Anna J. Markowitz & Daniel Eisenberg & Neal Halfon & Kristin Anderson Moore & Frederick J. Zimmerman, 2022. "The Child and Adolescent Thriving Index 1.0: Developing a Measure of the Outcome Indicators of Well-Being for Population Health Assessment," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(6), pages 2015-2042, December.
    3. A. H. Aslanyan & L. R. Avetisyan & N. Z. Khachikyan & J. Saroyan & Kh. V. Gasparyan, 2021. "Do the Social and Emotional Behaviors of High School Adolescents in Yerevan Determine Mental and Emotional Well-Being?," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(3), pages 1055-1074, June.
    4. Gundi Knies, 2022. "Effects of Income and Material Deprivation on Children’s Life Satisfaction: Evidence from Longitudinal Data for England (2009–2018)," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 1469-1492, April.

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