Creating a Culturally Specific and Holistic Measure of Socioeconomic Adversity

• In Event: Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Topic - Methods, History, Theory

Abstract

Objective. Existing literature has consistently established that socioeconomic adversity has a detrimental impact on youth and families. However, experiences of this adversity vary across race/ethnic groups, with Black and Hispanic families experiencing higher rates of absolute and persistent poverty and greater material hardship than White families (Chaudry & Wimer, 2016; Williams et al., 2010; 2016). Thus, measures of socioeconomic adversity should be sensitive to cultural nuances across diverse family contexts. Further, researchers have called for measures that account for the cumulative effects of multiple socioeconomic risks rather than just income poverty (Anand et al., 2019; Conger et al., 2010) and that additionally account for the timing and chronicity of socioeconomic adversity given that earlier and more persistent exposure to adversity has greater negative implications for youth (Ratcliffe & McKernan, 2012; 2010). The objective of this study is to create a holistic measure of socioeconomic adversity that is (a) valid within non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White families and (b) can be used to tap into the cumulative nature, chronicity, and timing of socioeconomic adversity.
Method. Participants (N = 4,692) consist of Black (50%), Hispanic (29%), and White (22%) families drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS; Reichman et al., 2001) using the measures reported in Table 1. Separate latent socioeconomic adversity variables will be constructed for Black, Hispanic, and White families at years 1, 3, and 5 using multi-group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (Figure 1). The sum of factor scores for each time point will quantify cumulative socioeconomic adversity across the birth to five-year period within each race/ethnic group. Next, the sample will be separated into sub-samples based on the distribution of factor scores at each assessment, and theoretically relevant thresholds that reflect adversity for each indicator will be identified based on existing literature. Using these thresholds, cut-points of factor scores that reflect ‘adversity’ within each race/ethnic group will be determined, which will then be used to create nominal chronicity (‘chronic’ vs. ‘transient’) and timing (‘early’ vs. ‘late’) variables. Using tools from the measurement invariance literature (Kline, 2015), we will examine whether the latent measures are constructed similarly within each race/ethnic group, and across timepoints, in terms of 1) which indicators load onto factors, 2) relative importance of indicators, and 3) correlations among facets of socioeconomic adversity. Thus, we will describe and explore culturally-sensitive interpretations of the latent constructs of socioeconomic adversity.
Feasibility. Use of FFCWS data is approved and analyses are underway; initial descriptions of the data and correlations suggest suitability for the analysis. We are familiar with the FFCWS data and measurement construction analyses, and anticipate no major issues that will prevent analyses from being completed.
Implications. Our novel methodological approach to assessing socioeconomic adversity in an ethnically-diverse sample allows for variations in the levels of each indicator across race/ethnic groups and will elucidate potential measurement differences in socioeconomic adversity within each group. This will allow researchers to explore the impacts of socioeconomic adversity within each race/ethnic group using a measure built specifically for that group.

Authors

• Nayantara Nair, Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Presenting Author

• Kristine Marceau, Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Non-Presenting Author

• Zoe Ellen Taylor, Purdue University, West Lafayette
  Non-Presenting Author

• Shelley Macdermid Wadsworth, Purdue University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Yumary Ruiz, Purdue University
  Non-Presenting Author