Intrayear Household Income Dynamics and Adolescent School Behavior

Abstract

Economic life for most American households is quite dynamic. Such income instability is an understudied aspect of households' economic contexts that may have distinct consequences for children. We examine the empirical relationship between household income instability, as measured by intrayear income change, and adolescent school behavior outcomes using a nationally representative sample of households with adolescents from the Survey of Income and Program Participation 2004 panel. We find an unfavorable relationship between income instability and adolescent school behaviors after controlling for income level and a large set of child and family characteristics. Income instability is associated with a lower likelihood of adolescents being highly engaged in school across the income spectrum and predicts adolescent expulsions and suspensions, particularly among low-income, older, and racial minority adolescents.

Association between income trajectories in childhood and psychiatric disorder: a Swedish population-based study

“…For example, comprehensive early childhood programmes for children at risk have been shown to have extended benefits over time 34. School plays an important role, because economic deprivation has a strong impact on children's educational achievement,10 35 36 and programmes aiming to improve cognitive and academic outcomes have been shown to be beneficial for children's mental health 34. Thus, future efforts to prevent or mitigate the negative effects of childhood economic deprivation on psychiatric disorder may benefit from integration of strategies that improve school performance among vulnerable youth.…”

“…Until now, only a few studies have examined variation in childhood family income and its association with health and social outcomes 10–12. These studies have found unfavourable relationships between childhood family income instability and children's educational attainment,10 11 development12 and behavioural problems 12. These studies have mostly focused on income fluctuation in general, but have also suggested that income fluctuations may be particularly harmful among low-income families.…”

“…There are reasons to believe that income variations are a source of stress for children and parents, particularly in low-income families 10 12 13. For instance, large swings in income may contribute to more household chaos and family instability, and the effects of income instability may also interact with children's developmental processes 12…”

Poverty Dynamics and Academic Trajectories of Children of Immigrants

“…These approaches may mask substantial and distinct patterns of poverty dynamics (e.g., duration and stability) over the course of childhood, which may be associated with different childhood experiences, thereby affecting academic achievement. Recently poverty researchers have started to acknowledge that children may experience poverty differently over time due to changes in the depth, stability, and duration of spells of poverty (e.g., [30,31,32,33]). However, no study has yet examined this issue among children of immigrants.…”

“…Although many children experience stable economic conditions without poverty throughout their childhood, increasing numbers of children in the United States—including those in so-called middle-class families—have experienced volatile family socioeconomic circumstances in recent decades and an increased likelihood of exposure to poverty [31,34,35]. Studies indicate that more than one-third of all children in the United States experience poverty for at least one year during childhood, and nearly 15% of these experience long spells of poverty lasting at least five years [36].…”