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The contribution of childhood environment to the explanation of socio-economic inequalities in health in adult life: A retrospective study

Author

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  • Van De Mheen, H.
  • Stronks, K.
  • Van Den Bos, J.
  • Mackenbach, J. P.

Abstract

In this study the contribution of childhood environment to the explanation of socio-economic inequalities in health in adulthood is examined. Childhood environment was measured using indicators of social, socio-economic and material aspects. Retrospective data obtained from an oral interview, part of the Longitudinal Study on Socio-Economic Health Differences (a longitudinal study in the South East of the Netherlands), were used. Indicators for socio-economic status at adult age were educational and occupational level, whilst health indicators included perceived general health and self-reports of chronic conditions. The percentage reduction in odds ratios of education and occupation after adjustment for childhood environment was used to estimate the contribution of childhood environment. The results suggest that a substantial part of differences in health between educational and occupational groups can be attributed to differences in childhood environment. Educational level of the mother, occupation of the father and financial situation of the family are the most important childhood characteristics in the explanation of socio-economic health differences in adult life. Different mechanisms of explanation concerning the contribution of childhood environment to socio-economic differences in adult life are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Van De Mheen, H. & Stronks, K. & Van Den Bos, J. & Mackenbach, J. P., 1997. "The contribution of childhood environment to the explanation of socio-economic inequalities in health in adult life: A retrospective study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 13-24, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:44:y:1997:i:1:p:13-24
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    Cited by:

    1. Annemarie Ruijsbroek & Alet H Wijga & Ulrike Gehring & Marjan Kerkhof & Mariël Droomers, 2015. "School Performance: A Matter of Health or Socio-Economic Background? Findings from the PIAMA Birth Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Sari Räisänen & Mika Gissler & Juho Saari & Michael Kramer & Seppo Heinonen, 2013. "Contribution of Risk Factors to Extremely, Very and Moderately Preterm Births – Register-Based Analysis of 1,390,742 Singleton Births," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-7, April.
    3. Christiaan Monden, 2010. "Do Measured and Unmeasured Family Factors Bias the Association Between Education and Self-Assessed Health?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 98(2), pages 321-336, September.
    4. Mäkinen, Tomi & Laaksonen, Mikko & Lahelma, Eero & Rahkonen, Ossi, 2006. "Associations of childhood circumstances with physical and mental functioning in adulthood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(8), pages 1831-1839, April.
    5. Palloni, Alberto & Milesi, Carolina & White, Robert G. & Turner, Alyn, 2009. "Early childhood health, reproduction of economic inequalities and the persistence of health and mortality differentials," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1574-1582, May.
    6. Adeladza K Amegah & Obed K Damptey & Gideon A Sarpong & Emmanuel Duah & David J Vervoorn & Jouni J K Jaakkola, 2013. "Malaria Infection, Poor Nutrition and Indoor Air Pollution Mediate Socioeconomic Differences in Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Cape Coast, Ghana," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(7), pages 1-8, July.
    7. Khlat, Myriam & Jusot, Florence & Ville, Isabelle, 2009. "Social origins, early hardship and obesity: A strong association in women, but not in men?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(9), pages 1692-1699, May.

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