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Poor economy during infancy may lead to adolescent behavioral problems

The macroeconomic environment during infancy may contribute to substance abuse and delinquent behavior in adolescence, according to recent study results.

“The results demonstrate a strong correlation between the unemployment rate during infancy and subsequent behavioral problems,” the researchers wrote. “This finding suggests that unfavorable economic conditions during infancy may create circumstances that can affect the psychological development of the infant and lead to the development of behavioral problems in adolescence.”

Seethalakshmi Ramanathan, MBBS, DPM, of the State University of New York, and colleagues examined the effect of the nationwide economic environment during and after the 1980 and 1981-1982 recessions on 8,984 adolescents born from 1980 to 1984. The researchers used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, looking at both changes in unemployment rates and the incidence of adolescent behavioral problems.

Results indicated that exposure to a 1% deviation from mean regional unemployment rates at the age of 1 year was linked to an increase in the odds of engaging in marijuana use (OR=1.09; 95% CI, 1.04-1.14), smoking (OR=1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.11), alcohol use (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.1), arrest (OR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.25), gang affiliation (OR=1.09; 95% CI, 1-1.19), and petty (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.1) and major (OR=1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.18) theft.

According to Ramanathan and colleagues, there were no significant associations between the economy and hard drugs, property destruction and assault.

“Although the past does not necessarily predict the future, it provides important lessons,” the researchers wrote. “Our findings suggest an important static risk factor that mental health professionals may want to take into account when dealing with children exposed to the current economic crisis. We hope that the study inspires mental health professionals to look for potential causes and explore interventions that can mitigate some of these long-term consequences.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.