The Role of Young Adult Children’s Income in the Relationship between Single Mothers’ Poverty and Their Young Adult Children’s Depression

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between single mother’s poverty and their young adult children’s depression, and it examined the mediating effect of young adults’ income on the relationship. The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) and the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 79 for Children and Young Adults (NLSY79 CY) were used. A total of 4,224 dyads were selected and the mediation model was conducted. Single mother’s poverty was related to low income and depression among their young adult children. The relationship between mother’s poverty and their young adult children’s depression was partially mediated by their young adult children’s income. Poverty prevention or reduction programs for female-headed households should be provided to single mothers to reduce future levels of depression among their young adults. Improving inequality in intergenerational economic mobility is one way to address depressive symptoms among the young adult children of single mothers in poverty.