Pathways from poor family relationships in adolescence to economic adversity in mid-adulthood

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies have found that troubled childhood family conditions have long-term detrimental effects on a person’s economic situation in adulthood. However, the mechanisms behind these effects are unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between poor adolescent family relationships and the economic adversity in mid-adulthood and whether different adversities in early adulthood mediate this association. Participants of a Finnish cohort study at 16 years in 1983 were followed up when aged 22, 32 and 42 (N = 1334). Family relationships were measured according to adolescents’ perceived lack of emotional parental support (e.g. My mother is close to me (reversed)), lack of parental support in the individuation process and poor atmosphere at home. We analysed the direct effects of poor family relationships at age 16 on the economic adversity at age 42 and also indirect effects via various adversities at ages 22 and 32. The examined adversities were poor somatic and mental health, lack of an intimate relationship, low education and heavy drinking. Poor adolescent family relationships were associated with economic adversity in mid-adulthood. For women, poor relationships were associated with their economic adversity (42y) through poor mental health and low education in early adulthood. For men, the effect was transmitted via low education, although this was not the case after adjusting for school achievement in adolescence. The quality of family relationships in adolescence is associated with an individual’s economic situation well into mid-adulthood in women. Moreover, this association was not explained by family structure and parental SEP in adolescence. Early promotion of parent-child interaction, as well as health and education of individuals from troubled family conditions, might reduce economic inequality in adulthood.