203484 Living arrangements during childrearing years and later health of African American mothers

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Kate E. Fothergill, PhD , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Margaret E. Ensminger, PhD , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Kerry M. Green, PhD , Department of Public and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Judy Robertson , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Roland J. Thorpe, PhD , Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Judith Kasper, PhD , Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Hee-Soon Juon, PhD , Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
Background/Significance

Over the last 30 years, there has been a shift in family structure across the nation, particularly among African Americans, exemplified by an increase in nontraditional patterns including single parent households, nonmarital childbearing, and declining marriage rates. Despite these changes, we know little about the complexities of these arrangements or their effects on mothers' well-being.

Objective/Purpose

This study aims to assess the impact of living arrangements during the childrearing years on later health among a cohort of African American mothers followed for more than 30 years. Guided by the theory of Social Integration, we hypothesize that women who live with husbands or other adults while raising children will have better health outcomes than women who live as the sole adult in the household.

Methods

Mothers (N=680) were assessed twice during the childrearing years and once when their “children” were adults. We identified eight patterns of stability and transition in living arrangements during the childrearing years. To examine relationships between living arrangement groups with later physical and emotional health, we used multiple regression analyses for continuous outcome variables (SF-36 Physical Functioning, SF-36 Bodily Pain, depressed mood) and logistic regression for the dichotomous outcome (anxious mood).

Results

Specific patterns of living arrangements were related to later health, controlling for age, earlier health, education, and poverty. Poverty explained many, but not all, of the relationships between living arrangements and health.

Discussion

Findings underscored the benefits of social support and social integration and highlighted the negative effects of marital dissolution on health.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe patterns of living arrangements during the childrearing years among a cohort of African American women; 2. Discuss the relationship between living arrangements during the childrearing years and later health; 3. Explain the role of poverty and education in explaining the relationship between living arrangements and health.

Keywords: African American, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and have worked with the Woodlawn Project for 9 years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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