Intergenerational Effects of a Family Cash Transfer on the Home Environment

Abstract

Objective: A natural experiment that provided income supplements to families has been associated with beneficial outcomes for children that persisted into adulthood. The children in this study are now adults, and many are parents.

Method: The study builds on the longitudinal, representative Great Smoky Mountains study conducted from 1993 to 2020. At follow-up in their late 30s, 1,094 of the 1,348 living participants (81.2%) were assessed. Of these participants (67.6%), 739 were parents. A tribe in the area implemented a cash transfer program of approximately $5,000 annually per person to every tribal member based on the profits received from operating a casino. Ten aspects of the home environment of participants were assessed (eg, family chaos, substance use, and food insecurity) as well as a composite measure across all home environment indicators. The proposed analyses were preregistered (https://osf.io/ex638).

Results: Of the 739 parents assessed, 192 (26.0%) were American Indians. Parents whose families received cash transfers during childhood did not differ from parents whose families did not receive cash transfers on any of the home environment indicators or the composite measure. At the same time, there was little evidence of elevated risk for participants in either group in measures of parental mental health, substance use, and violence.

Conclusion: A family cash transfer in childhood that had long-term effects on individual functioning did not impact the home environment of participants who became parents. Rather, parents in both groups were providing home environments generally conducive to their children's growth and development.

Study preregistration information: Intergenerational Effects of a Family Cash Transfer on the Home Environment; https://osf.io/; ex638.

Keywords: cash transfer; family environment; intergenerational; longitudinal; natural experiment.