This study aims to examine how mothers’ poverty differently affects young adult children’s self-esteem over time. We consider how young adult children’s income moderates the between-subject relationship and the within-subject relationship. This study used two data sets such as the NLSY79 and the NLSY79CY. We used six waves from 2004 to 2014. A total of 3975 mother–adult child dyads were chosen. The hybrid model was employed to explore both the between-subject and the within-subject relationship. There was a significant between-subject relationship regarding the effect of mothers’ poverty and adult children’s income on adult children’s self-esteem. In the between-subjects relationship, an interaction effect was found, such that children’s income moderated the between-subject relationship between mothers’ poverty and children’s self-esteem. Long-term anti-poverty programs should be provided to women with children even after they completely are away from poverty. Minimizing inequality in intergenerational economic mobility may be critical to enhance adult children’s self-esteem.
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