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Ageing and cohort trajectories in mental ill-health: An exploration using multilevel models

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  • Lucy Prior
  • Kelvyn Jones
  • David Manley

Abstract

Analyses of health over time must consider the potential impacts of ageing as well as any effects relating to cohort differences. The British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and Understanding Society longitudinal studies are employed to assess trends in mental ill-health over a 26-year period. This analysis uses cross-classified multilevel models in an exploratory, non-parametric approach to evaluate age and cohort effects net of each other. Mental ill-health evidences an initial worsening trend as people age which then reverses and exhibits improvement in late-middle-age, before declining again in the latter stages of life. There were less defined cohort trends. The modelling technique also reveals the relative importance of the temporal contexts in relation to inter- and intra-individual effects on mental ill-health, demonstrating that the ageing and cohort dimensions explain little variation compared to these more dominant within and between influences. Ultimately, we suggest that researchers would benefit from wider use of this exploratory modelling strategy when evaluating underlying health trends and more research is now needed to explore potential explanations of these baseline trajectories.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucy Prior & Kelvyn Jones & David Manley, 2020. "Ageing and cohort trajectories in mental ill-health: An exploration using multilevel models," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0235594
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235594
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Terence C. Cheng & Nattavudh Powdthavee & Andrew J. Oswald, 2017. "Longitudinal Evidence for a Midlife Nadir in Human Well‐being: Results from Four Data Sets," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 127(599), pages 126-142, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. David G. Blanchflower & Carol L. Graham, 2022. "The Mid-Life Dip in Well-Being: a Critique," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 161(1), pages 287-344, May.
    2. Paccagnella, Omar & Pongiglione, Benedetta, 2022. "Depression deterioration of older adults during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).

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