Social status, risky health behaviors, and diabetes in middle-aged and older adults.

TitleSocial status, risky health behaviors, and diabetes in middle-aged and older adults.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsWray, LA, Alwin, DF, McCammon, RJ, Manning, T, Best, LE
JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Volume61
Issue6
PaginationS290-8
Date Published2006 Nov
ISSN Number1079-5014
Call Numbernewpubs20070125_Wray_etal_JOG
KeywordsAged, Body Mass Index, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Behavior, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Risk-Taking, Social Behavior, Social Class, Surveys and Questionnaires
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This article investigates: (a) how social status influences diabetes prevalence and incidence; (b) how risky health behaviors contribute to the prediction of incident diabetes; (c) if the effects of health behaviors mediate the effects of social status on incident diabetes; and (d) if these effects differ in midlife and older age.

METHODS: We examined nationally representative data from the 1992/1993-1998 panels of the Health and Retirement Study for middle-aged and older adults using logistic regression analyses.

RESULT: The odds of prevalent diabetes were higher for people of older age, men, Black adults, and Latino adults. Higher early-life social status (e.g., parental schooling) and achieved social status (e.g., respondent schooling, economic resources) reduced the odds in both age groups. We observed similar patterns for incident diabetes in midlife but not in older age. Risky health behaviors--particularly obesity--increased the odds of incident diabetes in both age groups independent of social status. The increased odds of incident diabetes in midlife persisted for Black and Latino adults net of other social status factors.

DISCUSSION: Risky health behaviors are key predictors of incident diabetes in both age groups. Economic resources also play an important protective role in incident diabetes in midlife but not in older age.

DOI10.1093/geronb/61.6.s290
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17114308?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Health Insurance/mortality/health behaviors/diabetes

Endnote ID

16970

Alternate JournalJ Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
Citation Key7106
PubMed ID17114308
Grant ListAG-015437 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States