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Do socioeconomic disadvantages persist into old age? Self-reported morbidity in a 29-year follow-up of the Whitehall Study

Author

Listed:
  • Breeze, E.
  • Fletcher, A.E.
  • Leon, D.A.
  • Marmot, M.G.
  • Clarke, R.J.
  • Shipley, M.J.

Abstract

Objectives. This study examined (1) the relation of employment grade in middle age to self-reported poor health and functional limitations in old age and (2) whether socioeconomic status at approximately the time of retirement modifies health differentials in old age. Methods. Survivors of the Whitehall Study cohort of men were resurveyed. Respondents were aged 40 to 69 years when they were originally screened in 1967 to 1970. Results. Compared with senior administrators, men in clerical or manual (low-grade) jobs in middle age had quadruple the odds of poor physical performance in old age, triple the odds of poor general health, and double the odds of poor mental health and disability. At most, 20% of these differences were explained by baseline health or risk factors. Men who moved from low to middle grades before retirement were less likely than those who remained in low grades to have poor mental health. Conclusions. Socioeconomic status in middle age and at approximately retirement age is associated with morbidity in old age.

Suggested Citation

  • Breeze, E. & Fletcher, A.E. & Leon, D.A. & Marmot, M.G. & Clarke, R.J. & Shipley, M.J., 2001. "Do socioeconomic disadvantages persist into old age? Self-reported morbidity in a 29-year follow-up of the Whitehall Study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(2), pages 277-283.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2001:91:2:277-283_1
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dalstra, J.A.A. & Kunst, A.E. & Mackenbach, J.P., 2006. "A comparative appraisal of the relationship of education, income and housing tenure with less than good health among the elderly in Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(8), pages 2046-2060, April.
    2. Hoeck, Sarah & François, Guido & Van der Heyden, Johan & Geerts, Joanna & Van Hal, Guido, 2011. "Healthcare utilisation among the Belgian elderly in relation to their socio-economic status," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(2), pages 174-182, February.
    3. Juan Manuel Pérez-Salamero González & Marta Regúlez-Castillo & Carlos Vidal-Meliá, 2021. "Differences in Life Expectancy Between Self-Employed Workers and Paid Employees when Retirement Pensioners: Evidence from Spanish Social Security Records," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 37(3), pages 697-725, July.
    4. Maria Vozikaki & Manolis Linardakis & Katerina Micheli & Anastas Philalithis, 2017. "Activity Participation and Well-Being Among European Adults Aged 65 years and Older," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 769-795, March.
    5. Ghouse, Ghulam & Zaid, Muhammad, 2016. "Determinants of Low Birth Weight a Cross Sectional Study: In Case of Pakistan," MPRA Paper 70660, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Loree, Jacob, 2015. "State Level Income Inequality and Individual Self-Reported Health Status: Evidence from the United States," MPRA Paper 72638, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Jang, Soong-Nang & Cho, Sung-il & Kawachi, Ichiro, 2010. "Is socioeconomic disparity in disability improving among Korean elders?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 282-287, July.
    8. Bavafa, Hessam & Mukherjee, Anita & Welch, Tyler Q., 2023. "Inequality in the golden years: Wealth gradients in disability-free and work-free longevity in the United States," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Sarah Hoeck & Johan Van der Heyden & Joanna Geerts & Guido Van Hal, 2013. "Equity in GP and specialist contacts by older persons in Belgium," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(4), pages 593-602, August.
    10. Emmanuelle Cambois, 2004. "Occupational and educational differentials in mortality in French elderly people," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 2(11), pages 277-304.

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