The Associations of Financial Stress and Parenting Support Factors with Alcohol Behaviors During Young Adulthood

Abstract

This study examined concurrent and prospective associations of financial stress (financial strain, lack of financial access, public assistance) and parenting support factors (relationship quality, living at home, financial support) with young adults’ alcohol behaviors (alcohol use, heavy drinking, and problematic drinking) over a 5-year period. Analyses of National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) data (N = 7,159) showed that, over the study period, alcohol use and heavy drinking declined while problematic drinking increased. In addition, living at home and parental relationship quality were associated with fewer concurrent and prospective alcohol behaviors whereas financial strain and parents’ financial support were associated with more alcohol behaviors. The implications for minimizing alcohol misuse in young adults amid uncertain economic conditions are discussed.

Wealth as Security: Growth Curve Analyses of Household Income and Net Worth During a Recession

“…In future recessions, policymakers could work to target support toward households most negatively affected. By targeting the households most affected, policymakers could minimize the negative effects of financial stress on children, adolescents, and families, ranging from food insecurity, alcohol or substance use, and depression, to partner relationship strain (Chang et al 2014;Romo 2014;Serido et al 2014;Stein et al 2013). …”

The Enduring Impact of Parents’ Monitoring, Warmth, Expectancies, and Alcohol Use on Their Children’s Future Binge Drinking and Arrests: a Longitudinal Analysis

“…For example, research has identified links between parenting practices and later alcohol use (de Looze et al 2012; Serido et al 2014) and incarceration (Dodge et al 2006). Longitudinal studies have revealed negative relationships between the quality of parent-child relationships and later alcohol use (Ennett et al 2013; Ryan et al 2010), and certain parenting practices (Dodge et al 2006), including low involvement (Henggeler et al 1989; Patterson et al 1992), are linked with later arrest.…”

Families’ Financial Stress & Well-Being: The Importance of the Economy and Economic Environments

“… Methods : qualitative in-depth interviews Data set : primary data collection Cross-sectional : 2011 N = 40 married or cohabitating couples in Midwestern town Outcome variable(s) : financial uncertainty Financial uncertainty was experienced by all participants, being a universal experience during unfavorable macroeconomic conditions Participants experienced economic, management, personal, communication, and chronic uncertainty regarding their financial circumstances Participants reported that the macroeconomic downturn was a significant source of uncertainty, influencing their employment and housing Management uncertainty included not knowing how to pay off debts, save for retirement, or make medical decisions 14. Serido et al ( 2014 ) Financial stress What are the relationships between financial stress, parenting support, and young adults’ alcohol behaviors? Methods : hierarchical regression Data set : national longitudinal study of adolescent health Longitudinal : 5 years with 3 waves: 1994–1995; 2001–2002; 2008–2009 N = 7159 young adults ages 18–26 and 24–32 Outcome variable(s) : alcohol use; heavy drinking; problematic drinking Living at home and having quality relationships with parents were associated with young adults’ fewer alcohol behaviors Experiencing financial stress and parents’ financial support were associated with young adults’ increased alcohol behaviors Asian, Black, Latinx, “other” compared to white and female had fewer alcohol behaviors in young adulthood compared to their counterparts 15.…”

“…There were also differences in financial stress across racial groups (Afifi et al 2018 ; Park and Kim 2018 ; Serido et al 2014 ; Valentino et al 2014 ). For instance, White young adults exhibited higher rates of alcohol use and heavy drinking in the presence of financial stress when compared to their Asian, Black, and Latinx counterparts (Serido et al 2014 ).…”

“…There were also differences in financial stress across racial groups (Afifi et al 2018 ; Park and Kim 2018 ; Serido et al 2014 ; Valentino et al 2014 ). For instance, White young adults exhibited higher rates of alcohol use and heavy drinking in the presence of financial stress when compared to their Asian, Black, and Latinx counterparts (Serido et al 2014 ). In a study that examined the communication patterns and stress levels of White and Latinx heterosexual couples, Latinx couples often presented as a united front, used humor, and blamed the Great Recession for their economic hardship (Afifi et al 2018 ).…”