The intergenerational transmission of economic adversity, BMI, and emotional distress from adolescence to middle adulthood. 2023

Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University.

The present study examined the intergenerational transmission of economic adversity, as well as physical and mental health across generations. Specifically, we examined the effects of parental economic adversity, body mass index (BMI), and emotional distress during the child's adolescence on their economic adversity, BMI, and emotional distress in middle adulthood. The study included 366 Generation 1 (G1) mothers and fathers and their adolescents (Generation 2; G2) in middle adulthood. G1 behavior was examined when G2 was 16 years old and G2 behavior was assessed at Age 42. In line with aspects of the family stress model, economic hardship was related to economic pressure, which in turn was related to emotional distress for both G1 and G2. For each generation, economic pressure was also associated with BMI. There was also evidence of the intergenerational transmission of economic hardship, BMI, and emotional distress from G1 to G2. Finally, the intergenerational transmission of economic adversity in the family of origin to adult health outcomes was explained by these same health behaviors of the first generation. Results suggest that economic adversity and parental health behaviors as experienced in adolescence have long-term economic and health consequences into middle adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009035 Mothers Female parents, human or animal. Mothers' Clubs,Club, Mothers',Clubs, Mothers',Mother,Mother Clubs,Mother's Clubs,Mothers Clubs,Mothers' Club
D010290 Parents Persons functioning as natural, adoptive, or substitute parents. The heading includes the concept of parenthood as well as preparation for becoming a parent. Step-Parents,Parental Age,Parenthood Status,Stepparent,Age, Parental,Ages, Parental,Parent,Parental Ages,Status, Parenthood,Step Parents,Step-Parent,Stepparents
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D004644 Emotions Those affective states which can be experienced and have arousing and motivational properties. Feelings,Regret,Emotion,Feeling,Regrets
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000079225 Psychological Distress Negative emotional state characterized by physical and/or emotional discomfort, pain, or anguish. Emotional Distress,Distress, Emotional,Distress, Psychological
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D015992 Body Mass Index An indicator of body density as determined by the relationship of BODY WEIGHT to BODY HEIGHT. BMI Quetelet Index,Quetelet's Index,Index, Body Mass,Index, Quetelet,Quetelets Index

Related Publications

Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
April 2018, Pediatrics,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
January 2017, Journal of youth and adolescence,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
May 2020, European child & adolescent psychiatry,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
August 2017, The Lancet. Public health,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
January 2014, Annals of human biology,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
April 2024, Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.),
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
October 2014, Pediatrics,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
January 2022, European journal of psychotraumatology,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
March 2024, Child abuse & neglect,
Tricia K Neppl, and Jeenkyoung Lee, and Olivia N Diggs, and Brenda J Lohman, and Daniel Russell
December 2015, Economics and human biology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!