The Role of Children's Health in the Intergenerational Transmission of Economic Status

Abstract

Intergenerational mobility is relatively low in the United States. Children who grow up in poverty are eight times more likely to live in poverty in adulthood than their counterparts who do not live in poverty. What is it about growing up in poverty that reduces the probability of economic success later in life? On average, children whose families live in poverty have lower levels of cognitive skills, noncognitive skills (e.g., behavior including perseverance and adaptability), and health, all of which contribute to earnings in adulthood. In this article, I examine the role children's health plays in intergenerational transmission of economic status from an economic perspective and in the context of a developed, high‐income country (the United States). Evidence suggests that the mechanisms by which parents’ income affects children's health include, but are not limited to, reduced access to health insurance and medical care, greater exposure to environmental toxins, inadequate nutrition, and greater family violence and stress. I conclude with evidence suggesting that public investments in children's health can reduce the intergenerational transmission of economic status and the inequality of the next generation in the United States, as well as in other less developed nations.

All in the Family? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Parenting and Family Environment as Risk Factors for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children

“…In addition, it is also likely that both the parenting factors and ADHD are affected by other factors and potentially functioning as flags for underlying risks. For example, divorced and single parents can fully support their child’s healthy development, but among groups of children, those whose parents are divorced may have higher odds of experiencing family conflict, and single parenting has higher odds of economic disadvantage (Aizer, 2017 ; Bramlett & Mosher, 2002 ). Similarly, parental incarceration is more prevalent in households with lower income and lack of resources (Geller et al, 2009 ).…”

Links Between Childhood Exposure to Violent Contexts and Risky Adolescent Health Behaviors

“…Reducing childhood exposure to violence in communities and families has the potential to mitigate a substantial portion of risky adolescent sexual behavior and adolescent substance use, respectively. Because violence is an important pathway through which poor health and socioeconomic outcomes are reproduced across generations[34], policies that reduce childhood exposure to violence are ultimately likely to facilitate greater long-term health and social mobility.…”

Chronic Illness and Health Care Utilization Among Low-Income Preschoolers

“…Higher rates of hospitalizations and ER visits as well as lower quality care and increased postponed or unmet needs, stemming from a lack of resources, all impact children coming from lower SES backgrounds (Galbraith et al, 2012;Larson & Halfon, 2010;Loignon et al, 2015;Newacheck et al, 2002;Reid et al, 2008). Resources that are commonly strained when families living in poverty try to utilize healthcare services tend to be finances, time, transportation, consistency in their source of care, a lack of education or knowledge, and insurance coverage (Aizer, 2017;Ames, 2007;Larson & Halfon, 2010;Loignon et al, 2015;Reid et al, 2008). When looking at these factors together, children with a chronic illness, who also live in poverty have even higher rates of unmet needs, increased financial burden due to elevated costs and limited financial resources, and increased difficulties finding and using necessary healthcare services (Arauz Boudreau et al, 2014;Huang et al, 2005;Mayer et al, 2004;Ngui & Flores, 2006).…”

“…Lower SES children and their families also tend to experience poorer quality interactions with healthcare professionals, have poorer access to care due to a lack of resources (i.e., insurance coverage, funds for out-of-pocket fees, transportation, education, knowledge, time, etc. ), have no consistency in their source of care, and their primary caregiver(s) have more difficulties navigating the complex healthcare system (Aizer, 2017;Ames, 2007;Larson & Halfon, 2010;Loignon et al, 2015;Newacheck et al, 2002;Reid et al, 2008;Russ, Garro, & Halfon, 2010;Wilson-Simmons, 2016).…”

“…These associations exist because of the contexts in which these families reside which includes poor or unsafe living conditions, having to use their limited resources for basic needs, such as food and housing, insufficient wages and employee benefits, as well as the social differences that exist between doctors and patients from lower SES backgrounds, which create issues with communication (Aizer, 2017;Ames, 2007;Loignon et al, 2015;Newacheck et al, 2002;Reid et al, 2008;Russ et al, 2010). Fewer studies have analyzed the interaction between poverty and chronic illness, when comparing chronically ill to non-chronically ill children all from low SES backgrounds, in creating barriers to healthcare utilization.…”