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Intrayear household income dynamics and adolescent school behavior
Lisa A Gennetian1, Sharon Wolf, Heather D Hill
1Institute for Human Development and Social Change, New York University, 246 Greene Street, Fl 6E, New York, NY, 10003, USA, gennetl@nber.org.
Demography
|March 5, 2015
Summary
Household income instability negatively impacts adolescent school behavior. Even after accounting for income levels, unstable finances are linked to lower school engagement and increased suspensions, especially for vulnerable youth.
Area of Science:
- Socioeconomic impacts on child development
- Adolescent psychology and educational outcomes
Background:
- Household economic life is dynamic, with income instability being an understudied factor.
- Income instability may have unique consequences for children's development and well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the empirical relationship between household income instability and adolescent school behavior.
- To understand how intrayear income changes affect educational outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nationally representative sample from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) 2004 panel.
- Analyzed data from households with adolescents, measuring income instability by intrayear income change.
- Controlled for income level and various child and family characteristics.
Main Results:
- Found an unfavorable relationship between income instability and adolescent school behaviors.
- Income instability is associated with lower adolescent school engagement across all income levels.
- Income instability predicts adolescent suspensions and expulsions, particularly for low-income, older, and minority adolescents.
Conclusions:
- Household income instability presents a significant risk factor for negative adolescent school outcomes.
- Interventions addressing economic volatility may improve educational engagement and reduce disciplinary issues among adolescents.
- Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms linking income instability to school behavior.
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