Childhood and adult socioeconomic position interact to predict health in mid life in a cohort of British women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Low childhood socioeconomic position (cSEP) is associated with poorer adult health, even after adult socioeconomic position (aSEP) is adjusted for. However, whether cSEP and aSEP combine additively or non-additively in predicting adult health is less well studied. Some evidence suggests that the combination of low cSEP and low aSEP is associated with worse health than would be predicted from the sum of their individual effects.

Methods

Using data from female members of the British National Child Development Study cohort, we developed continuous quantitative measures of aSEP and cSEP, and used these to predict self-rated health at ages 23, 33, and 42.

Results

Lower aSEP predicted poorer heath at all ages. Lower cSEP predicted poorer health at all ages, even

SUBMITTER: Nettle D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5493971 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature