RT Journal
A1 Maslow GR, Haydon AA, Ford C, Halpern C
T1 Young adult outcomes of children growing up with chronic illness: An analysis of the national longitudinal study of adolescent health
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2011
FD March 1
VO 165
IS 3
SP 256
OP 261
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.287
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.287
AB Objective 
    To examine young adult outcomes in a nationally representative US cohort of young adults growing up with a chronic illness.Design 
    Secondary analysis of nationally representative data from wave III (in 2001) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.Setting 
    United States.Participants 
    The analytic sample comprised 13 236 young adults aged 18 to 28 years at wave III.Main Exposure 
    Self-report of a chronic physical illness (asthma, cancer, diabetes mellitus, or epilepsy) in adolescence. Respondents with asthma or nonasthmatic chronic illness (cancer, diabetes mellitus, or epilepsy) were compared with individuals without these conditions.Main Outcome Measures 
    Self-report of high school graduation, ever having employment, currently having employment, living with a parent/guardian, and ever receiving public assistance.Results 
    Three percent of young adults had nonasthmatic chronic illness (cancer, diabetes, or epilepsy), and 16.0% had asthma. Most young adults with chronic illness graduated high school (81.3%) and currently had employment (60.4%). However, compared with healthy young adults, those with nonasthmatic chronic illness were significantly less likely to graduate high school, ever have had employment, or currently have employment and were more likely to receive public assistance. Compared with young adults with asthma, those with nonasthmatic chronic illness again had significantly worse young adult outcomes on all measures.Conclusions 
    Most young adults growing up with a chronic illness graduate high school and have employment. However, these young adults are significantly less likely than their healthy peers to achieve these important educational and vocational milestones.