Yang Claire Yang1,2,3, Kristen Schorpp4, Courtney Boen5,6, Moira Johnson1,3, Kathleen Mullan Harris1,3. 1. Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Salem, Virginia. 2. Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Salem, Virginia. 3. Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Salem, Virginia. 4. Department of Sociology, Roanoke College, Salem, Virginia. 5. Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 6. Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We assess the temporal properties and biosocial mechanisms underlying the associations between early-life socioeconomic status (SES) and later health. Using a life-course design spanning adolescence to older adulthood, we assess how early life and various dimensions of adult SES are associated with immune and metabolic function in different life stages and examine possible bio-behavioral and psychosocial mechanisms underlying these associations. METHOD: Data for this study come from 3 national studies that collectively cover multiple stages of the life course (Add Health, MIDUS, and HRS). We estimated generalized linear models to examine the prospective associations between early-life SES, adult SES, and biomarkers of chronic inflammation and metabolic disorder assessed at follow-up. We further conducted formal tests of mediation to assess the role of adult SES in linking early SES to biological functions. RESULTS: We found that early-life SES exerted consistent protective effects for metabolic disorder across the life span, but waned with time for CRP. The protective effect of respondent education remained persistent for CRP but declined with age for metabolic disorder. Adult income and assets primarily protected respondents against physiological dysregulation in middle and old ages, but not in early adulthood. DISCUSSION: These findings are the first to elucidate the life-course patterns of SES that matter for underlying physiological functioning during the aging process to produce social gradients in health.
OBJECTIVES: We assess the temporal properties and biosocial mechanisms underlying the associations between early-life socioeconomic status (SES) and later health. Using a life-course design spanning adolescence to older adulthood, we assess how early life and various dimensions of adult SES are associated with immune and metabolic function in different life stages and examine possible bio-behavioral and psychosocial mechanisms underlying these associations. METHOD: Data for this study come from 3 national studies that collectively cover multiple stages of the life course (Add Health, MIDUS, and HRS). We estimated generalized linear models to examine the prospective associations between early-life SES, adult SES, and biomarkers of chronic inflammation and metabolic disorder assessed at follow-up. We further conducted formal tests of mediation to assess the role of adult SES in linking early SES to biological functions. RESULTS: We found that early-life SES exerted consistent protective effects for metabolic disorder across the life span, but waned with time for CRP. The protective effect of respondent education remained persistent for CRP but declined with age for metabolic disorder. Adult income and assets primarily protected respondents against physiological dysregulation in middle and old ages, but not in early adulthood. DISCUSSION: These findings are the first to elucidate the life-course patterns of SES that matter for underlying physiological functioning during the aging process to produce social gradients in health.
Authors: Annemarie Koster; Hans Bosma; Brenda W J H Penninx; Anne B Newman; Tamara B Harris; Jacques Th M van Eijk; Gertrudis I J M Kempen; Eleanor M Simonsick; Karen C Johnson; Ronica N Rooks; Hilsa N Ayonayon; Susan M Rubin; Stephen B Kritchevsky Journal: J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 6.053
Authors: Noah Snyder-Mackler; Joseph Robert Burger; Lauren Gaydosh; Daniel W Belsky; Grace A Noppert; Fernando A Campos; Alessandro Bartolomucci; Yang Claire Yang; Allison E Aiello; Angela O'Rand; Kathleen Mullan Harris; Carol A Shively; Susan C Alberts; Jenny Tung Journal: Science Date: 2020-05-22 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: Kaitlin Shartle; Yang Claire Yang; Laura S Richman; Daniel W Belsky; Allison E Aiello; Kathleen Mullan Harris Journal: J Aging Health Date: 2022-04-28
Authors: Yang Claire Yang; Christine E Walsh; Moira P Johnson; Daniel W Belsky; Max Reason; Patrick Curran; Allison E Aiello; Marianne Chanti-Ketterl; Kathleen Mullan Harris Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2021-04-27 Impact factor: 11.205