Childhood IQ, social class, deprivation and their relationship with mortality and morbidity risk in later life: prospective observational study linking the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 and the midspan studies

Hart, C.L. , Taylor, M.D., Whalley, L.J., Starr, J.M., Hole, D.J., Wilson, V. and Deary, I.J. (2003) Childhood IQ, social class, deprivation and their relationship with mortality and morbidity risk in later life: prospective observational study linking the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 and the midspan studies. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65(5), pp. 877-883. (doi: 10.1097/01.PSY.0000088584.82822.86) (PMID:14508035)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how childhood mental ability (IQ) is related to mortality and morbidity risk, when socioeconomic factors are also considered. METHODS: Participants were from the Midspan studies conducted on adults in the 1970s; 938 Midspan participants were successfully matched with the Scottish Mental Survey 1932 in which children born in 1921 and attending Scottish schools on June 1, 1932, took a cognitive ability test. Mortality, hospital admissions, and cancer incidence in the 25 years after the Midspan screening were investigated in relation to childhood IQ, social class, and deprivation. RESULTS: The risk of dying in 25 years was 17% higher for each standard deviation disadvantage in childhood IQ. Adjustment for social class and deprivation category accounted for some, but not all, of this higher risk, reducing it to 12%. Analysis by IQ quartile showed a substantial increased risk of death for the lowest-scoring quarter only. Structural equation modeling indicated that the effect of childhood IQ on mortality was partly indirectly influenced by social factors. Cause-specific mortality or hospital admission showed that lower IQ was associated with higher risks for all cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. Cause-specific mortality or cancer incidence risk was higher with decreasing IQ for lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Lower childhood IQ was related to higher mortality risk and some specific causes of death or morbidity. Childhood IQ may be considered as a marker for risk of death or illness in later life in similar and complementary ways to social class or deprivation category.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hart, Dr Carole and Wilson, Dr Valerie and Hole, Prof David
• Authors: Hart, C.L., Taylor, M.D., Whalley, L.J., Starr, J.M., Hole, D.J., Wilson, V., and Deary, I.J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Psychosomatic Medicine
• Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• ISSN: 0033-3174
• ISSN (Online): 1534-7796