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Objectives To investigate socioeconomic, demographic, and lifestyle factors that predict incident instrumental activity of daily living ( IADL) impairment and recovery. Design Data from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing ( ELSA), a biennial prospective observational study. Setting Individuals aged 50 and older living in England. Participants A sample of 8,154 individuals without any difficulty in activities of daily living ( ADLs) or IADLs was selected from the initial 11,391 participants. Measurements The first outcome was impairment in at least one IADL, and the second was IADL recovery. Main predictor: baseline socioeconomic position measured according to wealth. Outcomes and predictors were measured at each of the five follow-up interviews. Unadjusted and adjusted incidence rate ratios ( IRR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated through 2-year lagged Poisson regression in generalized estimating equation models, adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, quality-of-life, and health variables. Results Between any two consecutive waves, 1,656 (20.3%) participants developed some IADL impairment. Those with higher socioeconomic position, better quality of life, vigorous physical activity, paid work, digital literacy (use of Internet or e-mail), and cultural leisure activities had significantly lower risk of IADL impairment. There was a significant association between smoking, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, poor memory, diabetes mellitus, and depressive symptoms and IADL impairment. Better quality of life, good self-rated memory and vigorous physical activity were independent predictors of IADL recovery. Conclusion Better quality of life, vigorous physical activity, not smoking, paid work, cultural leisure activities, and digital literacy are modifiable factors that can decrease the incidence of IADL impairment. Good quality of life and vigorous physical activity have a significant role in recovery. Low socioeconomic position was a predictor of incident impairment of IADLs but not recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the association between negative aspects of close relationships and increased risk for coronary heart disease. Using Close Persons Questionnaire, negative aspects of close relationships and other support measures were assessed among 9011 British civil servants. Results showed that individuals who experienced negative aspects of close relationships had a higher risk of incident coronary events, indicating that individuals tend to mentally replay negative encounters more than they replay positive ones. Meanwhile, sex, social position, and emotional and practical support were not associated with heart disease.

Objectives. This study examined changes in the health status of civil servants whose employment security was threatened. Methods. Data were derived from a longitudinal cohort of 10 308 men and women, office staff in 20 British civil service departments. Physiological measurements, self-reported morbidity, and health-related behaviors for 530 members of the department under threat were compared with those of 19 other departments, during the period of uncertainty and during stable employment 5 years earlier. Results. From a position of advantage or no difference at baseline, self-reported morbidity and physiological risk factors tended to increase among respondents from the threatened department compared with those from other departments. For both sexes, increases were significant for body mass index (P<.001) and sleeping 9 or more hours (odds ratio [OR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3, 2.8; P<.01); modest but significant increases were seen in ischemia (OR=1.45; 95% CI= 1.0,2.1) and cholesterol concentration (0.08 mmol/L; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.14). Among women only, a significant relative increase in blood pressure (P<.01) was recorded. Over the same period health-related behaviors changed little. Conclusions. Threats to employment security have adverse consequences for health status that are unexplained by health selection or health-related behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]