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Life course influences on quality of life in early old age

Author

Listed:
  • Blane, D.
  • Higgs, P.
  • Hyde, M.
  • Wiggins, R. D.

Abstract

A growing literature demonstrates life course influences on health in early old age. The present paper is the first to examine whether similar processes also influence quality of life in early old age. The question is theorised in terms of structured dependency and third age, and the life course pathways by which people arrive at these destinations in later life. The issues are investigated in a unique data set that contains health and life course information on some 300 individuals mostly aged 65-75 years, enhanced in 2000 by postal survey data on quality of life. Several types of life course effect are identified at conventional levels of statistical significance. Long-term influences on quality of life, however, are less marked than those on health. Quality of life in early old age appears to be influenced primarily by current contextual factors such as material circumstances and serious health problems, with the influence of the life course limited mostly to its shaping of an individual's circumstances in later life. The implication for policy is that disadvantage during childhood and adulthood does not preclude good quality of life in early old age.

Suggested Citation

  • Blane, D. & Higgs, P. & Hyde, M. & Wiggins, R. D., 2004. "Life course influences on quality of life in early old age," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(11), pages 2171-2179, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:58:y:2004:i:11:p:2171-2179
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mai Stafford & Catharine R Gale & Gita Mishra & Marcus Richards & Stephanie Black & Diana L Kuh, 2015. "Childhood Environment and Mental Wellbeing at Age 60-64 Years: Prospective Evidence from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-12, June.
    2. Natasha Wood & David Bann & Rebecca Hardy & Catharine Gale & Alissa Goodman & Claire Crawford & Mai Stafford, 2017. "Childhood socioeconomic position and adult mental wellbeing: Evidence from four British birth cohort studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(10), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Freedman, Vicki A. & Martin, Linda G. & Schoeni, Robert F. & Cornman, Jennifer C., 2008. "Declines in late-life disability: The role of early- and mid-life factors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(7), pages 1588-1602, April.
    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. Wildman, Josephine M. & Moffatt, Suzanne & Pearce, Mark, 2018. "Quality of life at the retirement transition: Life course pathways in an early ‘baby boom’ birth cohort," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 11-18.
    6. Siow Li Lai & Nai Peng Tey, 2021. "The Quality of Life of Older Adults in a Multiethnic Metropolitan: An Analysis of CASP-19," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, June.
    7. Mariachiara Di Cesare & Ricardo Sabates, 2013. "Access to antenatal care and children’s cognitive development: a comparative analysis in Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam and India," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(3), pages 459-467, June.
    8. Karyn Morrissey & Tim Taylor & Gengyang Tu, 2023. "Estimating the Impact of Relative Financial Circumstances in Childhood on Adult Mental Wellbeing: a Mediation Analysis," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 915-930, April.

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