cognition; education; mediation analysis; g-formula; childhood socioeconomic conditions; English Longitudinal Study of Aging
Abstract :
[en] Objectives. Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage is consistently associated with lower cognitive function in later life. This study aims to distinguish the contribution of specific aspects of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage for memory performance in mid to late adulthood, with consideration for direct and indirect effects through education and occupation.
Methods. Data were from adults aged 50 to 80 years who completed the life history module in the 2006/2007 wave of the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (n = 4,553). The outcome, memory score, was based on word recall tests (range: 0–20 points). We used the g-formula to estimate direct and indirect effects of a composite variable for childhood socioeconomic disadvantage and its 4 individual components: lower-skilled occupation of the primary breadwinner, having few books in the home, overcrowding in the home, and lack of water and heating facilities in the home.
Results. Few books were the most consequential component of childhood socioeconomic disadvantage for later-life memory (total effect: −0.82 points for few books; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.04, −0.60), with roughly half being a direct effect. The total effect of a breadwinner in lower-skilled occupations was smaller but not significantly different from a few books (−0.67 points; 95% CI: −0.88, −0.46), while it was significantly smaller with overcrowding (−0.31 points; 95% CI: −0.56, −0.06). The latter 2 total effects were mostly mediated by education and occupation.
Discussion. A literate environment in the childhood home may have lasting direct effects on memory function in mid to later life, while parental occupation and overcrowding appear to influence memory primarily through educational and occupational pathways.
Research center :
- Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE) > PEARL Institute for Research on Socio-Economic Inequality (IRSEI)
Disciplines :
Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
FORD, Katherine Joy ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Social Sciences (DSOC)
Kobayashi, Lindsay C; University of Michigan School of Public Health > Department of Epidemiology
LEIST, Anja ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHSE) > Department of Social Sciences (DSOC)
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage and pathways to memory performance in mid to late adulthood: What matters most?
Publication date :
May 2022
Journal title :
Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
ISSN :
1079-5014
eISSN :
1758-5368
Publisher :
Oxford University Press, Cary, United States - North Carolina
H2020 - 803239 - CRISP - Cognitive Aging: From Educational Opportunities to Individual Risk Profiles
FnR Project :
FNR10949242 - Migration, Inequalities And Labour Markets, 2015 (01/08/2016-31/01/2023) - Michel Beine
Funders :
FNR - Fonds National de la Recherche European Research Council H2020 National Institute on Aging at the United States National Institutes of Health (grant numbers R01AG070953, R01AG069128, P30AG012846) CE - Commission Européenne
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