Financial assets and cardiometabolic risk in early adulthood: Evidence from add health

Socioeconomic status (SES), such as education, income, or occupation, is central to our understanding of health disparities. A substantial literature links wealth to health, yet relatively few studies focus specifically on financial assets in early adulthood and on cardiometabolic risk. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), this study investigates how household financial assets are associated with cardiometabolic risks, and assesses mediating pathways including health behaviors, stressful life events, and neighborhood disadvantage. Employing Poisson, logistic, and generalized structural equation models, findings reveal significant gender differences: among women, greater financial assets correlate with lower cardiometabolic risk, while no significant associations emerge among men. These results highlight the distinct influence of wealth on health beyond traditional SES indicators and emphasize the need for gender-sensitive analyses to fully capture the socio-economic determinants of health disparities in the context of increasing wealth inequality.