The emergence of health inequalities in early adulthood: evidence on timing and mechanisms from a West of Scotland cohort

BMC Public Health
H SweetingP West

Abstract

Evidence is inconsistent as to whether or not there are health inequalities in adolescence according to socio-economic position (SEP) and whether or when they emerge in early adulthood. Despite the large health inequalities literature, few studies have simultaneously compared the relative importance of 'health selection' versus 'social causation' at this life-stage. This study followed a cohort through the youth-adult transition to: (1) determine whether, and if so, when, health inequalities became evident according to both class of origin and current SEP; (2) compare the importance of health selection and social causation mechanisms; and (3) investigate whether these phenomena vary by gender. Data are from a West-of-Scotland cohort, surveyed five times between age 15 (in 1987, N=1,515, response=85%) and 36. Self-reported physical and mental health were obtained at each survey. SEP was based on parental occupational class at 15, a combination of own education or occupational status at 18 and own occupational class (with an additional non-employment category) at older ages. In respect of when inequalities emerged, we used the relative index of inequality to examine associations between both parental and own current SEP and healt...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 24, 2018·Journal of Aging and Health·Deborah Finkel, Marie Ernsth Bravell
Dec 17, 2016·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health·Ahmed ElhakeemRachel Cooper
Sep 29, 2019·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Dominic WeinbergCatrin Finkenauer
Jun 11, 2020·BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders·Henriette JahreBritt Elin Øiestad
Nov 7, 2019·BMC Public Health·Henrik DobewallArja Rimpelä
Mar 20, 2018·Journal of Affective Disorders·Sanju SilwalLars Lien

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