Social and economic background and class inequalities in health among young adults

https://doi.org/10.1016/0277-9536(91)90342-AGet rights and content

Abstract

This paper considers which socio-economic factors in childhood and early adulthood are most strongly associated with social class differences in health at age 23. Longitudinal data from the 1958 (NCDS) cohort were used for this purpose. By age 23 class gradients were evident for several health measures, including self-rated health, ‘malaise’, psychological morbidity and height. The contribution of earlier socio-economic background was established by assessing how far class differences in the health indicators were reduced by controlling for earlier circumstances. While class differentials were not eliminated after taking account of earlier circumstances, substantial reductions were associated with a number of factors in childhood, in particular social class, housing tenure, crowding, family size and receipt of free school meals. More recent experiences of unemployment and family formation were also important.

References (43)

  • C. Power et al.

    Health in childhood and social inequalities in health in young adults

    J. R. statist. Soc. Ser. A

    (1990)
  • A. Forsdahl

    Are poor living conditions in childhood and adolescence an important risk factor for arteriosclerotic heart disease?

    Br. J. prev. soc. Med.

    (1977)
  • K.E. Kiernan et al.

    Chronic cough in young adults in relation to smoking habits, childhood environment and chest illness

    Respiration

    (1976)
  • A. Tibbenham et al.

    The influence of family size on height

  • C. Martin

    Responding to a public need: a study of housing and health

    Radcl Commun. Med.

    (1987)
  • Strachan D. P. Damp housing and childhood asthma: validation of reporting symptoms. Br. med. J. 297,...
  • B.M.A.

    Deprivation and ill-health

    (1987)
  • I. Cole-Hamilton et al.

    Tightening belts: a report on the impact of poverty on food

    (1986)
  • R.J. Rona et al.

    Social factors and height of primary school children in England and Scotland

    J. Epidem. Commun. Hlth

    (1978)
  • R. Smith

    Unemployment and Health

    (1987)
  • M.H. Banks et al.

    Unemployment and risk of minor psychiatric disorder in young people: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence

    Psychol. Med.

    (1982)
  • Cited by (0)

    Present address (and reprints available from): Department of Paediatric Epidemiology, Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford St, London WC1N 1EH, U.K.

    View full text