Early Life Course Pathways of Adult Depression and Chronic Pain

• Published in: Journal of health and social behavior Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 75 - 91
• Main Author: Goosby, Bridget J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications, Inc 01.03.2013; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications; American Sociological Association
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Adult education; Adulthood; Adults; Age; Aging; Biological and medical sciences; Childhood; Chronic diseases; Chronic illnesses; Chronic pain; Chronic Pain - diagnosis; Chronic Pain - etiology; Comorbidity; Cumulative Inequality; Depression; Depression (Psychology); Depression - diagnosis; Depression - etiology; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - etiology; Depressive disorders; Dysthymic disorder; Educational Attainment; Educational Status; Family; Female; Genetic variation; Humans; Individualized Instruction; Inequality; Life course; Male; Maternal depression; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Middle age; Mood disorders; Mothers; Pain; Parents; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Risk; Risk Factors; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Socioeconomics; Studies; United States > US; pain; depression; cumulative inequality; intergenerational; life course; Human; Mood disorder; Chronic; Pain; Adult; Depression; Early
• ISSN: 0022-1465; 2150-6000
• DOI: 10.1177/0022146512475089

Applying cumulative inequality theory, this study examines the extent to which childhood socioeconomic disadvantage and maternal depression increase the risk of major depression and chronic pain in U.S. working-aged adults. Further, I assess whether low socioeconomic status amplifies the risk of adult depression and/or pain. Using data from the 2003 National Comorbidity Survey Replication (N=4339), I find that socioeconomic disadvantage and maternal depression during youth increases the risk of adult depression and/or chronic pain. The probability of having chronic pain increases in magnitude over the life course for adults whose parents have lower educational attainment relative to those with more highly educated parents. Childhood socioeconomic circumstances are not completely explained by adulthood socioeconomic status indicators. These findings help illustrate the far-reaching influence of childhood context on adult physical and mental health.