How do Income and Socio-Economic Status Matter? Disentangling Pathways of Effect on Child Well-Being and Development

The correlation between socio-economic status (SES) or income and children’s developmental and well-being outcomes is well established. However, understanding how household income and SES affect children is crucial for designing effective public policies that reduce the disadvantage of growing up with low-SES and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. This presentation is of analysis using data from Statistic's Canada's National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth to disentangle the different pathways of effect of income and parental background on children's socio-emotional well-being, cognitive development, and behavior problems during three stages of childhood. The analysis uses structural equation path models to examine measures of children’s activities, parenting behavior, and family functioning as potential mediators of income and SES.

Annie McEwen is a PhD Candidate in SPPA.