Family income, parental education and brain structure in children and adolescents.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Noble KG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4414816 | biostudies-literature | 2015 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Family income, parental education and brain structure in children and adolescents.
Noble Kimberly G KG Houston Suzanne M SM Brito Natalie H NH Bartsch Hauke H Kan Eric E Kuperman Joshua M JM Akshoomoff Natacha N Amaral David G DG Bloss Cinnamon S CS Libiger Ondrej O Schork Nicholas J NJ Murray Sarah S SS Casey B J BJ Chang Linda L Ernst Thomas M TM Frazier Jean A JA Gruen Jeffrey R JR Kennedy David N DN Van Zijl Peter P Mostofsky Stewart S Kaufmann Walter E WE Kenet Tal T Dale Anders M AM Jernigan Terry L TL Sowell Elizabeth R ER
Nature neuroscience 20150330 5
Socioeconomic disparities are associated with differences in cognitive development. The extent to which this translates to disparities in brain structure is unclear. We investigated relationships between socioeconomic factors and brain morphometry, independently of genetic ancestry, among a cohort of 1,099 typically developing individuals between 3 and 20 years of age. Income was logarithmically associated with brain surface area. Among children from lower income families, small differences in i ...[more]
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Project description:Introduction: Hippocampus, a medial temporal lobe structure, has significant implications in memory formation and learning. Although hippocampus activity is believed to be affected by socioeconomic status (SES), limited knowledge exists on which SES indicators influence hippocampus function. Purpose: This study explored the separate and combined effects of three SES indicators, namely parental education, family income, and neighborhood income, on adolescents' hippocampus activation during an N-Back memory task. As some of the effects of parental education may be through income, we also tested if the effect of parental education on hippocampus activation during our N-Back memory task is mediated by family or neighborhood income. Methods: The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study is a national multi-center investigation of American adolescents' brain development. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of a total sample of 3067 9-10-year-old adolescents were used. The primary outcome was left- hippocampus activation during the N-Back memory task (mean beta weight for N-Back run 1 2 back versus 0 back contrast in left hippocampus). The independent variable was parental education. Family income and neighborhood income were two possible mediators. Age, sex, and marital status were the covariates. To test mediation, we used hierarchical linear regression models first without and then with our mediators. Full mediation was defined according to Kenny. The Sobel test was used to confirm statistical mediation. Results: In the absence of family and neighborhood income in the model, higher parental educational attainment was associated with lower level of left hippocampus activation during the N-Back memory task. This effect was significant while age, sex, and marital status were controlled. The association between parental educational attainment and hippocampus activation during the N-Back memory task was no more significant when we controlled for family and neighborhood income. Instead, family income was associated with hippocampus activation during the N-Back memory task. These findings suggested that family income fully mediates the effect of parental educational attainment on left hippocampus activation during the N-Back memory task. Conclusions: The effect of parental educational attainment on adolescents' hippocampus activation during an N-Back memory task is fully explained by family income. That means low family income is why adolescents with low-educated parents show highlighted hippocampus activation during an N-Back memory task. Given the central role of the hippocampus in learning and memory and as income is a modifiable factor by tax and economic policies, income-redistribution policies, fair taxation, and higher minimum wage may have implications for promotion of adolescent equality and social justice. There is a need to focus on family-level economic needs across all levels of neighborhood income.
| S-EPMC7464386 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundChildren with low-income parents have a higher risk of mental disorders, although it is unclear whether other parental characteristics or genetic confounding explain these associations and whether it is true for all mental disorders.MethodsIn this registry-based study of all children in Norway (n = 1 354 393) aged 5-17 years from 2008 to 2016, we examined whether parental income was associated with childhood diagnoses of mental disorders identified through national registries from primary healthcare, hospitalizations and specialist outpatient services.ResultsThere were substantial differences in mental disorders by parental income, except for eating disorders in girls. In the bottom 1% of parental income, 16.9% [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.6, 18.3] of boys had a mental disorder compared with 4.1% (95% CI: 3.3, 4.8) in the top 1%. Among girls, there were 14.2% (95% CI: 12.9, 15.5) in the lowest, compared with 3.2% (95% CI: 2.5, 3.9) in the highest parental-income percentile. Differences were mainly attributable to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in boys and anxiety and depression in girls. There were more mental disorders in children whose parents had mental disorders or low education, or lived in separate households. Still, parental income remained associated with children's mental disorders after accounting for parents' mental disorders and other factors, and associations were also present among adopted children.ConclusionsMental disorders were 3- to 4-fold more prevalent in children with parents in the lowest compared with the highest income percentiles. Parents' own mental disorders, other socio-demographic factors and genetic confounding did not fully explain these associations.
| S-EPMC8580274 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Poverty, as assessed by several socioeconomic (SES) factors, has been linked to worse cognitive performance and reduced cortical brain volumes in children. However, the relative contributions of the various SES factors on brain development and the mediating effects between cognition and brain morphometry have not been investigated. Here we used cross-sectional data from the ABCD Study to evaluate associations among various SES and demographic factors, brain morphometrics, and cognition and their reproducibility in two independent subsamples of 3892 children. Among the SES factors, family income (FI) best explained individual differences in cognitive test scores (stronger for crystallized than for fluid cognition), cortical volume (CV), and thickness (CT). Other SES factors that showed significant associations with cognition and brain morphometrics included parental education and neighborhood deprivation, but when controlling for FI, their effect sizes were negligible and their regional brain patterns were not reproducible. Mediation analyses showed that cognitive scores, which we used as surrogate markers of the children's level of cognitive stimulation, partially mediated the association of FI and CT, whereas the mediations of brain morphometrics on the association of FI and cognition were not significant. These results suggest that lack of supportive/educational stimulation in children from low-income families might drive the reduced CV and CT. Thus, strategies to enhance parental supportive stimulation and the quality of education for children in low-income families could help counteract the negative effects of poverty on children's brain development.
| S-EPMC8590701 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundChildren from ethnic minority and low-income families in the United States have higher rates of poor health and higher mortality rates. Diet, an acknowledged correlate of health, may mediate the known race-ethnic and socioeconomic differentials in the health of US children.ObjectiveThe objective was to examine the independent association of race-ethnicity, family income, and education with nutritional and lipid biomarkers in US children.DesignWe used data from the NHANES 2003-2006 to examine serum concentrations of vitamins A, D, E, C, B-6, and B-12; serum concentrations of folate, carotenoids, and lipids; and dietary intakes of corresponding nutrients for 2-19-y-old children (n = ~2700-7500). Multiple covariate-adjusted regression methods were used to examine the independent and joint associations of race-ethnicity, family income, and education with biomarker status.ResultsNon-Hispanic blacks had lower mean serum concentrations of vitamins A, B-6, and E and α-carotene than did non-Hispanic whites. Both non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans had higher mean serum vitamin C, β-cryptoxanthin, and lutein + zeaxanthin but lower folate and vitamin D concentrations compared with non-Hispanic whites. In comparison with non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks were less likely to have low serum HDL cholesterol or high triglycerides. Family income and education predicted few biomarker or dietary outcomes, and the observed associations were weak. Moreover, modification of race-ethnic differentials by income or education (or vice versa) was noted for very few biomarkers.ConclusionRace-ethnicity, but not family income or education, was a strong independent predictor of serum nutrient concentrations and dietary micronutrient intakes in US children and adolescents.
| S-EPMC3417217 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Recent survey data reveal the persistence of long-acknowledged socioeconomic status (SES) differentials in the prevalence of obesity in U.S. children and adolescents. We examined 30-y changes in the association of dietary and meal behaviors with family income and education to understand the possible contribution of these trends to SES trends in obesity rates in 2- to 19-y-old Americans. We used dietary and SES data for 2- to 19-y olds from the NHANES 1971-1974 to 2003-2008 (n = 39,822). The secular changes in the independent association of family income and education with 24-h dietary behaviors [energy intake (kcal), amount of foods and beverages (g), percent energy from all beverages and from nutritive beverages, and energy density of foods] and 24-h meal behaviors [number of eating occasions, energy from snack episodes (%), and mention of breakfast] were examined using multivariable regression methods. The secular increase in energy intake and food and beverage amount was significant in the lowest family SES categories. The positive association of family income and education with intakes of energy, food amounts, and beverage energy, noted in 1971-1974 or 1976-1980, was not observed in later surveys. There was an age gradient in changes in most diet and SES associations over time, with largest adverse changes in 12- to 19-y olds. Higher education was associated with lower energy from snack episodes, breakfast skipping, and energy density of foods and these associations did not change over time. Overall, these results suggest both income and education differentials in secular increases in food amounts and energy intakes.
| S-EPMC3738237 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceFamily income is known to be associated with children's health; the association may be particularly pronounced among lower-income children in the US, who tend to have more limited access to health resources than their higher-income peers.ObjectiveTo investigate the association of family income with claims-based measures of morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents in lower-income families in the US enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional analysis included 795 000 participants aged 5 to 17 years enrolled in Medicaid (Medicaid Analytic eXtract claims, 2011-2012) living in families with income below 200% of the federal poverty threshold (American Community Survey, 2008-2013). Follow-up ended in December 2021.ExposuresFamily income relative to the federal poverty threshold.Main outcomes and measuresRecord of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for an infection, mental health disorder, injury, asthma, anemia, or substance use disorder and death record within 10 years of observation (Social Security Administration death records through 2021).ResultsAmong 795 000 individuals in the sample (all statistics weighted: mean [SD] income-to-poverty ratio, 90% [53%]; mean [SD] age, 10.6 [3.9] years; 56% aged 10 to 17 years), 33% had a diagnosed infection, 13% had a mental health disorder, 6% had an injury, 5% had asthma, 2% had anemia, 1% had a substance use disorder, and 0.6% died between 2011 and 2021, with the mean (SD) age at death of 19.8 (4.2) years. For those aged 5 to 9 years, higher family income was associated with lower adjusted prevalence of all outcomes, except mortality: children in families with an additional 100% income relative to the federal poverty threshold had 2.3 (95% CI, 1.8-2.9) percentage points fewer infections, 1.9 (95% CI, 1.5-2.2) percentage points fewer mental health diagnoses, 0.7 (95% CI, 0.5-0.8) percentage points fewer injuries, 0.3 (95% CI, 0.09-0.5) percentage points less asthma, 0.2 (95% CI, 0.08-0.3) percentage points less anemia, and 0.06 (95% CI, 0.03-0.09) percentage points fewer substance use disorder diagnoses. Except for injury and anemia, the associations were more pronounced among those aged 10 to 17 years than those 5 to 9 years (P for interaction <.05). For those aged 10 to 17 years, an additional 100% income relative to the federal poverty threshold was associated with a lower 10-year mortality rate by 0.18 (95% CI, 0.12-0.25) percentage points.Conclusions and relevanceAmong children and adolescents in the US aged 5 to 17 years with family income under 200% of the federal poverty threshold who accessed health care through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, higher family income was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of diagnosed infections, mental health disorders, injury, asthma, anemia, and substance use disorders and lower 10-year mortality. Further research is needed to understand whether these associations are causal.
| S-EPMC9857424 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Introduction: Although the effects of parental education and household income on children's brain development are well established, less is known about possible variation in these effects across diverse racial and ethnic groups. According to the Minorities' Diminished Returns (MDRs) phenomenon, due to structural racism, social stratification, and residential segregation, parental educational attainment and household income show weaker effects for non-White than White children. Purpose: Built on the MDRs framework and conceptualizing race as a social rather than a biological factor, this study explored racial and ethnic variation in the magnitude of the effects of parental education and household income on children's whole-brain cortical surface area. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we used baseline socioeconomic and structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Our analytical sample was 10,262 American children between ages 9 and 10. The independent variables were parental education and household income. The primary outcome was the children's whole-brain cortical surface area. Age, sex, and family marital status were covariates. Race and ethnicity were the moderators. We used mixed-effects regression models for data analysis as participants were nested within families and study sites. Results: High parental education and household income were associated with larger children's whole-brain cortical surface area. The effects of high parental education and high household income on children's whole-brain cortical surface area were modified by race. Compared to White children, Black children showed a diminished return of high parental education on the whole-brain cortical surface area when compared to White children. Asian American children showed weaker effects of household income on the whole-brain cortical surface area when compared to White children. We could not find differential associations between parental education and household income with the whole-brain cortical surface area, when compared to White children, for non-Hispanic and Hispanic children. Conclusions: The effects of parental educational attainment and household income on children's whole-brain cortical surface area are weaker in non-White than White families. Although parental education and income contribute to children's brain development, these effects are unequal across racial groups.
| S-EPMC7763341 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceAlthough different aspects of socioeconomic status (SES) may represent distinct risk factors for poor mental health in children, knowledge of their differential and synergistic associations with the brain is limited.ObjectiveTo examine the independent associations between distinct SES factors and child brain structure.Design, setting, and participantsWe used baseline data from participants aged 9 to 10 years in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. These data were collected from 21 US sites between September 2017 and August 2018. Study participants were recruited from schools to create a participant sample that closely reflects the US population.ExposuresNeighborhood disadvantage was measured using the area deprivation index. We also used data on total parent or caregiver educational attainment (in years) and household income-to-needs ratio.Main outcomes and measuresT1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess measures of cortical thickness, surface area, and subcortical volume.ResultsData from 8862 ABCD participants aged 9 to 10 years were analyzed. The mean (SD) age was 119.1 (7.5) months; there were 4243 girls (47.9%) and 4619 boys (52.1%). Data on race or ethnicity were available for 8857 of 8862 participants: 173 (2.0%) were Asian, 1099 (12.4%) were Black or African American, 1688 (19.1%) were Hispanic, 4967 (56.1%) were White, and 930 (10.5%) reported multiple races or ethnicities. Using 10-fold, within-sample split-half replication, we found that neighborhood disadvantage was associated with lower cortical thickness in the following brain regions (η2 = 0.004-0.009): cuneus (B [SE] = -0.099 [0.013]; P < .001), lateral occipital (B [SE] = -0.088 [0.011]; P < .001), lateral orbitofrontal (B [SE] = -0.072 [0.012]; P < .001), lingual (B [SE] = -0.104 [0.012]; P < .001), paracentral (B [SE] = -0.086 [0.012]; P < .001), pericalcarine (B [SE] = -0.077 [0.012]; P < .001), postcentral (B [SE] = -0.069 [0.012]; P < .001), precentral (B [SE] = -0.059 [0.011]; P < .001), rostral middle frontal (B [SE] = -0.076 [0.011]; P < .001), and superior parietal (B [SE] = -0.060 [0.011]; P < .001). Exploratory analyses showed that the associations of low educational attainment or neighborhood disadvantage and low cortical thickness were attenuated in the presence of a high income-to-needs ratio (η2 = 0.003-0.007).Conclusions and relevanceThe findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that different SES indicators have distinct associations with children's brain structure. A high income-to-needs ratio may play a protective role in the context of neighborhood disadvantage and low parent or caregiver educational attainment. This study highlights the importance of considering the joint associations of different SES indicators in future work.
| S-EPMC9389347 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AimWe compared the effects of parental education and household income on children's body mass index (BMI) in Hispanic White (HW) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) families.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we borrowed data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study and analyzed data of 5100 children between the ages of 9 and 10. The independent variables were parental education and household income. The primary outcome was BMI value. Ethnicity was the moderating variable. Confounders were age, sex, and family structure. Three mixed-effects regression models were used for data analysis.ResultsOverall, higher parental education and household income were associated with lower BMI levels in children. While an interaction was found between ethnicity and parental education, no interaction was noted between ethnicity and household income regarding BMI. The interaction indicated weaker protective effects of high parental education on BMI in HW children than NHW children. Household income showed similar protective effects on children's BMI in HW and NHW families.ConclusionParental education but not household income loses some of its protective effects on childhood BMI among HW families compared to NHW families. Distal social determinants of health may be more vulnerable to the MDRs (minorities' diminished returns) than proximal ones. As a result, closing the income gap may be a good strategy towards closing the childhood BMI gap between highly educated HW and NHW families. Policies that raise the minimum wage and those that help HW families save money (e.g., earned income tax policies) maybe more promising strategies to eliminate the ethnic gap in BMI than increasing the education level of ethnic minority families.
| S-EPMC8297622 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The unique neuroanatomical underpinnings of internalizing symptoms and impulsivity during childhood are not well understood. In this study, we examined associations of brain structure with anxiety, depression, and impulsivity in children and adolescents. Participants were 7- to 21-year-olds (N = 328) from the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics (PING) study who completed high-resolution, 3-Tesla, T1-weighted MRI and self-report measures of anxiety, depression, and/or impulsivity. Cortical thickness and surface area were examined across cortical regions-of-interest (ROIs), and exploratory whole-brain analyses were also conducted. Gray matter volume (GMV) was examined in subcortical ROIs. When considered separately, higher depressive symptoms and impulsivity were each significantly associated with reduced cortical thickness in ventromedial PFC/medial OFC, but when considered simultaneously, only depressive symptoms remained significant. Higher impulsivity, but not depressive symptoms, was associated with reduced cortical thickness in the frontal pole, rostral middle frontal gyrus, and pars orbitalis. No differences were found for regional surface area. Higher depressive symptoms, but not impulsivity, were significantly associated with smaller hippocampal GMV and larger pallidal GMV. There were no significant associations between anxiety symptoms and brain structure. Depressive symptoms and impulsivity may be linked with cortical thinning in overlapping and distinct regions during childhood and adolescence.
| S-EPMC6080576 | biostudies-literature