scholarly journals Race, Adolescent Socioeconomic Status, and Lifetime Non-Medical Use of Prescription Painkillers: Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health

Author(s):  
Amy Ehntholt ◽  
Roman Pabayo ◽  
Lisa Berkman ◽  
Ichiro Kawachi

The misuse of prescription painkillers is a major contributor to the ongoing drug overdose epidemic. This study investigated variability in non-medical use of prescription painkillers (NMUPP) by race and early-life socioeconomic status (SES) in a sample now at increased risk for opioid overdose. Data from two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 11,602) were used to calculate prevalence of reported NMUPP by Wave 4 (2008; mean age 28), and to assess variation by race and by equivalized household family income at Wave 1 (1994/5). Predicted values for prevalence of NMUPP were modelled, adjusting for age, sex, parental education, and region. Race and SES in adolescence were associated with later reported NMUPP. A gradient was seen in prevalence by SES (adjusted: family income quartile 1 = 13.3%; quartile 2 = 13.8%; quartile 3 = 14.8%; quartile 4 = 16.0%; trend p-value = 0.007). Prevalence was higher among males. Racial/ethnic differences in prevalence were seen (non-Hispanic white (NHW) = 18.5%; non-Hispanic black (NHB) = 5.8%; Hispanic = 10.5%; Other = 10.0%). SES differences were less pronounced upon stratification, with trend tests significant only among females (p = 0.004), and marginally significant among Hispanic males (p = 0.06). Early-life SES was associated with reported lifetime NMUPP: the higher the family income in adolescence, the greater the likelihood of NMUPP by young adulthood. Variations in NMUPP by income paled in comparison with racial/ethnic differences. Results point to a possible long-enduring association between SES and NMUPP, and a need to examine underlying mechanisms.

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1186-1194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren D. Brumley ◽  
Michael A. Russell ◽  
Sara R. Jaffee

When adolescents are asked how likely they think it is that they will go to college, does their answer influence what they will actually do? Typically, it is difficult to determine whether college expectations promote academic achievement or just reflect a reasonable forecast of what is likely to happen to them. We used a sample of siblings from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health ( N = 1,766) to test whether associations between college expectations and educational attainment remained after accounting for unobserved family factors that may shape both educational expectations and attainment. Compared with their siblings, adolescents with higher college expectations were also 43% more likely to attend college, even when analyses controlled for grades and IQ. The effect of college expectations on college attendance was strongest among youths living in higher-socioeconomic-status families.


2020 ◽  
pp. 215686932095939
Author(s):  
Jinho Kim

Research on relative deprivation (RD) and health has focused primarily on adult populations. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study examines the link between RD and adolescent depression and is the first to test the mechanisms that underlie this relationship. This study finds that controlling for school fixed effects, family income, and observed characteristics of students and their families, students with higher RD within schools exhibit more depressive symptoms. This study also considers how RD may influence adolescent depression. Sobel-Goodman mediation tests reveal that a combination of lowered self-esteem and future expectations (especially about educational attainment) explains nearly half of the association between RD and adolescent depression. Results of this study suggest that social inequality and stratification may implicate population health in the next generation through socioeconomic stratification within schools.


2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (11) ◽  
pp. 1016-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerith J Conron ◽  
Shoshana K Goldberg ◽  
Carolyn T Halpern

BackgroundSocioeconomic status (SES) is a fundamental contributor to health; however, limited research has examined sexual orientation differences in SES.Methods2008–2009 data from 14 051 participants (ages 24–32 years) in the US-based, representative, National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health were analysed using multivariable regressions that adjusted for age, race-ethnicity, childhood SES, urbanicity and Census region, separately for females and males. Modification by racial minority status (black or Latino vs white, non-Hispanic) was also explored.ResultsAmong females, sexual minorities (SM) (10.5% of females) were less likely to graduate college, and were more likely to be unemployed, poor/near poor, to receive public assistance and to report economic hardship and lower social status than heterosexuals. Adjusting for education attenuated many of these differences. Among males, SM (4.2% of males) were more likely than heterosexuals to be college graduates; however, they also had lower personal incomes. Lower rates of homeownership were observed among SM, particularly racial minority SM females. For males, household poverty patterns differed by race-ethnicity: among racial minority males, SM were more likely than heterosexuals to be living at >400% federal poverty level), whereas the pattern was reversed among whites.ConclusionsSexual minorities, especially females, are of lower SES than their heterosexual counterparts. SES should be considered a potential mediator of SM stigma on health. Studies of public policies that may produce, as well as mitigate, observed SES inequities, are warranted.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 686-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Taveras ◽  
M. W. Gillman ◽  
K. Kleinman ◽  
J. W. Rich-Edwards ◽  
S. L. Rifas-Shiman

2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1058-1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Song ◽  
Huan J. Chang ◽  
Manasi Tirodkar ◽  
Rowland W. Chang ◽  
Larry M. Manheim ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cari J Clark ◽  
Iris W Borowsky ◽  
Alvaro Alonso ◽  
Rachael A Spencer ◽  
Susan A Everson-Rose

Background: Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be higher in sexual minorities, but epidemiologic evidence is sparse. We used a nationally representative sample of young adults to examine sex-specific disparities in global CVD risk by sexual orientation and race/ethnicity. Methods: Data were from National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health subjects who participated in wave 4 (2008-09) and who had valid weights and non-missing data (7087 women; 6340 men). Age, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, education, financial stress, and CVD risk factors (body mass index, smoking, diabetes, systolic blood pressure, and use of antihypertensive medication) were collected via an in-home interview. We calculated the 30-Year risk for total CVD using a Framingham-based prediction model. Sex-specific differences in 30-year risk of CVD by sexual orientation were calculated with weighted linear models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, education, and financial distress. Sex-specific interactions between race/ethnicity and sexual orientation were tested. Results: Mean age was 28.9 ± .2 years; 93% (n=5912) of male participants were heterosexual, 4% (n=258) were bisexual, and 2% (n=170) were gay. 80% (n=5713) of female participants were heterosexual, 18% (n=1243) were bisexual, and 2% (n=131) were lesbian. Average 30-year risk of CVD was 17.2 ± .5% in men and 9.0 ± .3% in women. Differences in CVD risk by sexual orientation were not detectable for men (p=.59). Compared to heterosexual women, bisexual and lesbian women had a .9% (95% CI: .3, 1.4) and 2.0% (95% CI: .7, 3.2) higher risk of CVD, respectively. In race/ethnicity stratified models (interaction p-value=.01), an increased risk among sexual minorities, especially lesbians, was detectable except among Hispanic women (Figure). Conclusion: Disparities in global CVD risk were observed by sexual orientation for women and persisted across most racial/ethnic groups. Sexual orientation may be a marker of increased risk of CVD but more research on contributing factors is needed.


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