The Depths of Despair Among US Adults Entering Midlife

• Gaydosh, Lauren ^[1] ; Hummer, Robert A. ^[2] ; Hargrove, Taylor W. ^[2] ; Halpern, Carolyn T. ^[2] ; Hussey, Jon M. ^[2] ; Whitsel, Eric A. ^[2] ; Dole, Nancy ^[2] ; Harris, Kathleen Mullan ^[2]
  1. [1] Vanderbilt University

     Vanderbilt University

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

     University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

     Township of Chapel Hill, Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: American journal of public health, ISSN 0090-0036, Vol. 109, Nº. 5, 2019, págs. 774-780
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives. To test whether indicators of despair are rising among US adults as they age toward midlife and whether this rise is concentrated among low-educated Whites and in rural areas.Methods. We used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, a nationally representative study of US adolescents in 1994. Our sample was restricted to individuals who participated in 1 or more of 5 waves (1994?2017) and self-identified as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic (n?=?18?446). We examined change in indicators of despair from adolescence to adulthood using multilevel regression analysis, testing for differences by race/ethnicity, education, and rurality.Results. We found evidence of rising despair among this cohort over the past decade. This increase was not restricted to low-educated Whites or to rural areas.Conclusions. Results suggest that generally rising despair among the young adult cohort now reaching midlife that cuts across racial/ethnic, educational, and geographic groups may presage rising midlife mortality for these subgroups in the next decade.