Financial Strain and Physical Health across the Life Course: Assessing Direction of Effect

• In Event: 3129 - Section on Medical Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 27. Financial Strain and Health

Abstract

Past theory and research in medical sociology has frequently focused on the association between financial strain and physical health across the life course. However, the direction of effect between these two variables is still unclear. We help to clarify the relationship between these variables by conduction formal tests to identify the leading indicator in two independent samples of mid- and later life adults. Results from both samples provide some evidence that financial strain is the leading indicator. We find no evidence that physical health is the leading indicator or that this association is completely bidirectional. Implications for theory and future directions for research are discussed.

Authors

• Eric Thomas Klopack, University of Georgia

• Ronald L. Simons, University of Georgia

• K.A.S. Wickrama, The University of Georgia