Primary Submission Category: Socioeconomic status
Persistent Childhood Poverty and Housing Stability: Examining the Role of Healthcare Access and Chronic Health Conditions
Authors: Marah Maaita,
Presenting Author: Marah Maaita*
While research extensively examines childhood poverty’s effects on economic mobility and health (Ratcliffe & McKernan, 2012; Yang, 2019), a significant gap exists in understanding its impact on adult housing stability. Emerging evidence links childhood poverty to adverse housing outcomes (Cohen-Cline et al., 2021; Gold, 2020; Heerde et al., 2024; Kendig et al., 2014), but the mechanisms remain unexplored. Healthcare access and chronic conditions represent a promising pathway, as childhood poverty often entails limited healthcare access (Dalton et al., 2016) that may constrain future economic opportunities and housing outcomes. In this study, I aim to examine whether healthcare access and chronic health conditions mediate the relationship between persistent childhood poverty and housing stability in adulthood. Specifically, I aim to address: (1) How does persistent childhood poverty influence housing stability in adulthood? and (2) To what extent do healthcare access and chronic health conditions mediate this relationship?
Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics focusing on individuals born between 1984-1991 followed to age 30, I will define persistent childhood poverty as experiencing poverty for at least 70% of childhood years (ages 0-17), with sensitivity analysis at 50% (Ratcliffe & McKernan, 2020; Yang, 2019). Housing stability is measured through homeownership status and residential mobility. Logistic and Poisson regression models will assess both direct effects and potential mediation through healthcare access (health insurance) and chronic conditions (e.g. asthma, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes), controlling for demographic, family, and regional factors. This study aims to provide targeted policy recommendations for improving preventive healthcare for low-income children and early interventions for chronic condition management to prevent cascading economic disadvantages.