Inequality in the intergenerational economic mobility in single mother-headed households

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study examines the underlying pathway of intergenerational economic mobility within single mother-headed families by considering the mediating role of young adult children’s educational attainment. MethodsThe National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 for Children and Young Adults (NLSY79 CY) were used to pair data from single mothers and their young adult children. A total of 3,139 single mother and young adult children pairs were chosen for analysis. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression analysis were employed to examine the mediation model. ResultsSingle mothers’ poverty status was negatively associated with both their young adult children’s educational attainment and income. The young adult children’s educational attainment was positively related to their income. Results showed a full mediation of the relationship between single mothers’ poverty status and their young adult children’s income via their young adult children’s educational attainment. DiscussionResearchers should pay more attention to single mother-headed households who may be at higher risk of the intergenerational transmission of inequity. A new framework is necessary to understand intergenerational economic mobility between single mothers and their young adult children. It is imperative to consider the role of educational attainment when examining intergenerational economic mobility between single mothers and their young adult children.