Related Experiment Videos
Social mobility over the lifecourse and self reported mental health at age 50: prospective cohort study
Paul A Tiffin1, Mark S Pearce, Louise Parker
1Paediatric and Lifecourse Epidemiology Research Group, School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Sir James Spence Institute, Royal Victoria Infirmary, University of Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK.
Study Objective:
To investigate the effect of socioeconomic status throughout the lifecourse on self reported mental health at age 50 years.
Design:
Prospective cohort study
Setting:
Community setting in Newcastle upon Tyne, north east England.
Participants:
503 subjects from a birth cohort assembled in 1947 who completed the 28 item version of the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28).
Main Results:
There was an association between socioeconomic group at birth and reporting a clinically significant GHQ-28 score at age 50 (OR 5.5 95% CI 1.2 to 25.4 comparing the least with the most advantaged socioeconomic group). A downward socioeconomic trajectory over the whole lifecourse was associated with poorer self reported mental health in men (p<0.001) but not women (p=0.8).
Conclusions:
Socioeconomic position throughout the lifecourse may act differently on mental health at middle age depending on a person's sex.
Related Concept Videos
Longitudinal Research
Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...
Self-Esteem
Longitudinal Studies
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification