ABSTRACT

A growing literature has demonstrated a link between early-life socioeconomic conditions and adult health at a singular point in life. No research exists, however, that specifies the life course patterns of socioeconomic status (SES) in relation to the underlying biological processes that determine health. Using an innovative life course research design consisting of four nationally representative longitudinal datasets that collectively cover the human life span from early adolescence to old age (Add Health, MIDUS, NSHAP, and HRS), we address this scientific gap and assess how SES pathways from childhood into adulthood are associated with biophysiological outcomes in different adult life stages. For each dataset, we constructed standardized composite measures of early-life SES and adult SES and harmonized biophysiological measurements of immune and metabolic functioning. We found that the relative importance of early-life SES and adult SES varied across young, mid, and late adulthood, such that early-life SES sets a life course trajectory of socioeconomic well-being and operates through adult SES to influence health as adults age. We also documented evidence of the detrimental health effects of downward mobility and persistent socioeconomic disadvantage. These findings are the first to specify the life course patterns of SES that matter for underlying biophysiological functioning in different stages of adulthood. The study thus contributes new knowledge critical for improving population health by identifying the particular points in the life course at which interventions might be most effective in preventing disease and premature mortality.

抽象的

越来越多的文献表明，在生命的单个点上，早期的社会经济状况与成人健康之间存在联系。但是，尚无任何研究能确定与确定健康的潜在生物过程相关的社会经济地位（SES）的生命历程模式。我们使用创新的生命历程研究设计，该研究设计由四个具有全国代表性的纵向数据集组成，这些数据集涵盖了从青春期早期到老年的整个生命（Add Health，MIDUS，NSHAP和HRS），我们解决了这一科学空白并评估了SES途径如何从从小到成年与成年后不同阶段的生物生理结果相关。对于每个数据集，我们构建了早期SES和成人SES的标准化综合指标，并对免疫和代谢功能进行了统一的生物生理指标。我们发现，成年SES和成年SES的相对重要性在成年，中后期和成年后各不相同，因此，成年SES设定了社会经济福祉的人生历程，并通过成年SES运作，从而影响成年后的健康年龄。我们还记录了向下运动和持续的社会经济劣势对健康造成不利影响的证据。这些发现是第一个说明SES的生命历程模式，该模式对成年后不同阶段的潜在生物生理功能至关重要。