Young adult outcomes of children growing up with chronic illness: an analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

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.