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Intergenerational transmission of socioeconomic position and ideal cardiovascular health: 32-year follow-up study
- Source :
- Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association. 36(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- OBJECTIVES Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood predicts cardiovascular health in adulthood but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using a longitudinal study design, we examined the extent to which adult SEP acts as a pathway (mediator) connecting childhood SEP with adult cardiovascular health, and if upward social mobility mitigates the health-effects of early low SEP. METHOD The sample comprised 697 participants from a prospective Finnish cohort followed during 32 years. Childhood SEP was assessed from the parents in 1980 (participant mean age 10.9) and adulthood SEP was examined in 2007 and 2012 (participant mean age 43.2 in 2012). Both childhood and adulthood SEP scores comprised education, income, occupational status, and occupational stability. Ideal cardiovascular health was assessed in 2007 and 2012 according to the American Heart Association's guidelines. RESULTS Higher childhood SEP was associated with higher ideal cardiovascular health index in adulthood (β = 0.13, p < .001) independently of sex, age, childhood cardiovascular risk factors, and chronic conditions. Mediation analysis showed that adult SEP accounted for 33% of the association between childhood SEP and ideal cardiovascular health index. Upwardly mobile participants scored higher on ideal cardiovascular health in adulthood compared with participants staying in lower SEP (M = 4.05 vs. 3.56, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS Transmission of SEP over generations is a predictor of health inequalities, which should be considered in cardiovascular prevention. Although upward social mobility mitigates some of the effect of early SEP disadvantage on later cardiovascular health, childhood SEP remains an important predictor of future health. (PsycINFO Database Record
- Subjects :
- Male
Longitudinal study
Time Factors
Health Status
CHILDHOOD
DETERMINANTS
030204 cardiovascular system & hematology
0302 clinical medicine
Risk Factors
Medicine
030212 general & internal medicine
Longitudinal Studies
Prospective Studies
Young adult
Prospective cohort study
Child
Applied Psychology
Finland
RISK
BIRTH COHORT
musculoskeletal, neural, and ocular physiology
Middle Aged
3. Good health
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cardiovascular Diseases
Intergenerational Relations
Population Surveillance
Cohort
population characteristics
Life course approach
Female
PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS
prospective study
Adult
congenital, hereditary, and neonatal diseases and abnormalities
Adolescent
515 Psychology
Occupational prestige
Social class
behavioral disciplines and activities
SOCIAL-MOBILITY
03 medical and health sciences
Young Adult
Environmental health
Ideal cardiovascular health
INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION
Humans
CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE
social mobility
Socioeconomic status
LIFE-COURSE
business.industry
ta3121
body regions
Social Class
Socioeconomic Factors
YOUNG FINNS
ADULT HEALTH
business
SOCIOECONOMIC POSITION
Demography
Follow-Up Studies
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19307810
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4f574b8436a069c1dcd8617e1a60a554