Investigating associations between long-term poverty exposure and premature mortality: evidence from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 prospective cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Living in poverty increases the risk for mortality. Existing research that examines life course poverty typically relies on measures separated by decades of time. Here, we aimed to estimate the association of 20-year cumulative poverty exposure from emerging adulthood through to established adulthood with premature mortality assessed over the following 15 years.

Methods

We included National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 study participants with three or more family income measures between 1985 and 2004. Participants were, on average, aged 23 years at the start and aged 42 years at the end of this period. Follow-up for premature mortality began in 2004 and ended in 2019, at which time participants were aged 53-62 years. We defined cumulative poverty by the propo

SUBMITTER: Colvin CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12638018 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature