Associations of successful aging with socioeconomic position across the life-course: The West of Scotland Twenty-07 Prospective Cohort Study

Whitley, E. , Benzeval, M. and Popham, F. (2018) Associations of successful aging with socioeconomic position across the life-course: The West of Scotland Twenty-07 Prospective Cohort Study. Journal of Aging and Health, 30(1), pp. 52-74. (doi: 10.1177/0898264316665208) (PMID:27581420) (PMCID:PMC5714158)

[img]
Preview
Text
120685.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

441kB

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate how socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with multidimensional measures of successful aging (SA), and how this varies and accumulates across the life-course. Method: Using data from 1,733 Scottish men and women from two cohorts aged around 57 and 76, respectively, we explored associations of SA, based on the Rowe–Kahn model, with 10 measures of SEP measured in childhood and, distally and proximally, in adulthood. Results: Individual SEP associations with SA score were generally consistent across different indicators and life stages: Respondents with the most versus least favorable SEP had two additional positive SA dimensions. There was also a strong association between SA and cumulative SEP based on all 10 measures combined; respondents with the most versus least favorable lifelong SEP had four additional positive SA dimensions. Conclusion: SEP advantages/disadvantages act and accumulate across the life-course, resulting in widening socioeconomic inequalities in SA in later life.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Popham, Dr Frank and Whitley, Dr Elise and Benzeval, Dr Michaela
Authors: Whitley, E., Benzeval, M., and Popham, F.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Journal of Aging and Health
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:0898-2643
ISSN (Online):1552-6887
Published Online:30 August 2016
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2016 The Authors
First Published:First published in Journal of Aging and Health 30(1): 52-74
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
656621Social Patterning of Health over the LifecourseTimothy PophamMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/7HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit