Pathways of economic influence on adolescent adjustment

An important part of a science aimed at the prevention of human dysfunction involves the development of empirically based models that identify process es of risk for or protection from emotional distress or behavioral problems over time. The present study developed and evaluated such a model that pro posed two pathways through which family economic pressure was expected to i nfluence change in adolescent internalizing symptoms (depression and anxiet y) during the period from the eighth to the tenth grades. A total of 377 ru ral families in a midwestern state provided data for the analyses. The resu lts were generally consistent with the conceptual model in that family econ omic pressure increased adolescent perceptions of family economic hardship, which, in tom, reduced the adolescent's sense of control or mastery over t ime. Lowered mastery was associated with increases in emotional distress. A lso consistent with the model, prior levels of mastery appeared to reduce t he magnitude of economic stress experienced by the adolescent whereas prior emotional distress intensified the economic stress process. Although gende r differences were found in these processes, the overall pattern of results suggests that girls and boys are both at risk for internalizing problems w hen families experience economic pressure. Implications of the findings for the development of effective preventive interventions with financially str essed families in rural areas are discussed.