Youth Survival Perceptions: Forecasts for Future Health

• In Event: 223 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Paper Session. Life Course Construction in Challenging Circumstances

Abstract

In national studies, some youth report they do not think they will live into adulthood. Belief in risk for early death is more prevalent among youth of color and youth living in poverty, and may become a self-fulfilling prophecy as youth give up on self-care and future life investment. The purpose of this study is to describe the relationship between youth perception of risk for early death and health in adulthood. Data are from Waves I-IV of the in-home interviews from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The study sample includes 10,120 respondents participating in all four waves (ages 11 to 34 years). Linear regression models are used to determine the predictive ability of perceived survival (measured in Waves I-III) on health outcomes (Wave IV), including diagnostic profiles, self-reported health, and an allostatic load index. Findings reveal significant relationships between youth survival perceptions and adult health, even with adjustment for measures of social class origin, social location, and antecedent health. Persistence in low perceived survival and uncertainty in survival perception over time are associated with disease burden and poor health outcomes in adulthood. Examination of youth survival perceptions may represent a unique mechanism to address health disparities by establishing a link between survival perceptions and long-term health outcomes.

Author

• Naomi Nichele Duke, University of Minnesota