Socioeconomic Status Across the Life Course and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults: An Examination of the Latency, Pathways, and Accumulation Hypotheses

TitleSocioeconomic Status Across the Life Course and Cognitive Function Among Older Adults: An Examination of the Latency, Pathways, and Accumulation Hypotheses
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsLyu, J, Burr, JA
JournalJournal of Aging and Health
Volume28
Issue1
Pagination40-67
KeywordsAdult children, Demographics, Event History/Life Cycle, Health Conditions and Status
Abstract

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between life course socioeconomic status (SES) and cognitive function among older adults in the United States over a 12-year observation period. The mediation of adult SES on the association between childhood SES and cognition was examined, along with the relationship between cumulative SES and cognition. Method: Using a nationally representative sample from the Health and Retirement Study, cognitive status and change in cognition from 1998 to 2010 were examined using growth curve models. Results: The results showed that cognitive function varied within-persons and between-persons. SES disadvantage in childhood was associated with lower cognitive function at baseline. Adult SES mediated the relationship between childhood SES and cognitive function. Persons with higher cumulative SES demonstrated an advantage in cognitive function. Discussion: Childhood SES and adult SES both had relationships with cognitive status and, to a lesser degree, change in cognition in later life.

URLhttp://jah.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/05/07/0898264315585504.abstract
DOI10.1177/0898264315585504
Endnote Keywords

childhood SES/cognitive function/life course/socioeconomic Status/Cognition/childhood

Endnote ID

999999

Citation Key8363