Life course disadvantage of African Americans and chronic disease in adulthood

Social disadvantage in childhood has been associated with worse health outcomes for adults. This study examines the association between receiving welfare benefits in childhood and having diagnosed hypertension or diabetes in adulthood among Blacks ages 34-85. Data were from the Milwaukee oversample of 592 Blacks from the second Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS II) Study. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) representing the association between childhood welfare status and an adult diagnosis of either hypertension or diabetes. The sample was 68% female with average age 52. Over half (52%) had hypertension; 17.7% had diabetes. Twenty-eight percent reported having received welfare benefits as children. In unadjusted analyses, having received welfare benefits in childhood was associated with lower odds of having diabetes (OR 0.59; CI 0.35-0.99). After adjusting for age, having received welfare benefits in childhood was not associated adult diabetes. In unadjusted analyses, having received welfare benefits in childhood was associated with lower odds of hypertension (OR 0.63, CI 0.44-0.92). After adjusting for age and smoking, the result was not significant. While results were not significant, further research examining childhood welfare status as a protective factor for adult-onset chronic disease may be warranted. Ensuring access to care to disadvantaged children may be protective of chronic disease in adulthood.