Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Socioeconomic inequalities in resilience and vulnerability among older adults: A population-based birth cohort analysis

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Rachel CooperORCiD

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

© 2018 International Psychogeriatric Association.Background: Aging is associated with declines in physical capability; however, some individuals demonstrate high well-being despite this decline, i.e. they are resilient. We examined socioeconomic position (SEP) and resilience and the influence of potentially modifiable behavioral resources, i.e. social support and leisure time physical activity (LTPA), on these relationships.Methods: Data came from the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, a nationally-representative birth cohort study. Resilience-vulnerability at age 60-64 years (n = 1,756) was operationalized as the difference between observed and expected levels of well-being, captured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS), given the level of performance-based physical capability. SEP was assessed by father's and own social class, parental education, and intergenerational social mobility. PA and structural/functional social support were reported at ages 53 years and 60-64 years. Path analysis was used to examine mediation of SEP and resilience-vulnerability through LTPA and social support.Results: Participants in the highest social class had scores on the resilience to vulnerability continuum that were an average of 2.3 units (β = 0.46, 95% CI 0.17, 0.75) higher than those in the lowest social class. Greater LTPA (β = 0.58, 95% CI 0.31, 0.85) and social support (β = 3.27, 95% CI 2.90, 3.63) were associated with greater resilience; LTPA partly mediated participant social class and resilience (23.4% of variance).Conclusions: Adult socioeconomic advantage was associated with greater resilience. Initiatives to increase LTPA may contribute to reducing socioeconomic inequalities in this form of resilience in later life.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Cosco TD, Cooper R, Kuh D, Stafford M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Psychogeriatrics

Year: 2018

Volume: 30

Issue: 5

Pages: 695-703

Print publication date: 01/05/2018

Online publication date: 08/11/2017

Acceptance date: 02/04/2016

ISSN (print): 1041-6102

ISSN (electronic): 1741-203X

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610217002198

DOI: 10.1017/S1041610217002198

PubMed id: 29113612


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Share