%0 Journal Article %J Soc Work Res %D 2012 %T The role of educational aspirations and expectations in the discontinuity of intergenerational low-income status between generations %A Lee, Jungeun O %A Hill, Karl G %A Hawkins, J D %X

The present study investigates one potential mechanism mediating continuity and discontinuity in low-income status across generations: children's educational aspirations and expectations. Data are drawn from a community sample of 808 students followed from age 10 into their 30s. Four subgroups of trajectories of children's educational expectations and aspirations were identified from ages 10 to 18: a "stable high" group, a "stable low" group, an "increaser" group, and a "decreaser" group. Among youths from low-income families, those in the stable high educational aspirations and expectations group and the increaser group were equally likely to graduate from high school. High school graduation was positively associated with level of total household income at age 30. Findings suggest that social work efforts that support the development of high educational aspirations and expectations in children may serve to reduce the intergenerational continuity of low-income status.

%B Soc Work Res %V 36 %8 2012 Jun 1 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1093/swr/svs025 %0 Journal Article %J J Adolesc Health %D 2011 %T The role of maternal early-life and later-life risk factors on offspring low birth weight: Findings from a three-generational study. %A Gavin, Amelia R %A Hill, Karl G %A Hawkins, J D %A Maas, Carl %K Adolescent %K Adolescent Behavior %K Adult %K Alcohol Drinking %K Birth Weight %K Child Abuse %K Child of Impaired Parents %K Depression %K Female %K Humans %K Infant, Low Birth Weight %K Infant, Newborn %K Intergenerational Relations %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Obesity %K Risk Factors %K Smoking %K Social Class %X

PURPOSE: This study examined three research questions: (1) Is there an association between maternal early-life economic disadvantage and the birth weight of later-born offspring? (2) Is there an association between maternal abuse in childhood and the birth weight of later-born offspring? (3) To what extent are these early-life risks mediated through adolescent and adult substance use, mental and physical health status, and adult socioeconomic status (SES)?

METHODS: Analyses used structural equation modeling to examine data from two longitudinal studies, which included three generations. The first generation (G1) and the second generation (G2) were enrolled in the Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP), and the third generation (G3) was enrolled in the SSDP Intergenerational Project. Data for the study (N = 136) focused on (G2) mothers enrolled in the SSDP and their children (G3).

RESULTS: Analyses revealed that G2 low childhood SES predicted G3 offspring birth weight. Early childhood abuse among G2 respondents predicted G3 offspring birth weight through a mediated pathway including G2 adolescent substance use and G2 prenatal substance use. Birth weight was unrelated to maternal adult SES, depression, or obesity.

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the effect of maternal early-life risks of low childhood SES and child maltreatment on later-born offspring birth weight. These findings have far-reaching effects on the cumulative risk associated with early-life economic disadvantage and childhood maltreatment. Such findings encourage policies and interventions that enhance child health at birth by taking the mother's own early-life and development into account.

%B J Adolesc Health %V 49 %P 166-71 %8 2011 Aug %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.11.246