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Social mobility over the lifecourse and self reported mental health at age 50: prospective cohort study

Tiffin, P.A.; Pearce, M.S.; Parker, L.

Authors

P.A. Tiffin

M.S. Pearce

L. Parker



Abstract

Study objective: To investigate the effect of socioeconomic status throughout the lifecourse on self reported mental health at age 50 years. Design: Prospective cohort study Setting: Community setting in Newcastle upon Tyne, north east England. Participants: 503 subjects from a birth cohort assembled in 1947 who completed the 28 item version of the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Main results: There was an association between socioeconomic group at birth and reporting a clinically significant GHQ-28 score at age 50 (OR 5.5 95% CI 1.2 to 25.4 comparing the least with the most advantaged socioeconomic group). A downward socioeconomic trajectory over the whole lifecourse was associated with poorer self reported mental health in men (p<0.001) but not women (p = 0.8). Conclusions: Socioeconomic position throughout the lifecourse may act differently on mental health at middle age depending on a person’s sex.

Citation

Tiffin, P., Pearce, M., & Parker, L. (2005). Social mobility over the lifecourse and self reported mental health at age 50: prospective cohort study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 59(10), 870-872. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.035246

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Oct 1, 2005
Deposit Date Jul 10, 2012
Journal Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Print ISSN 0143-005X
Electronic ISSN 1470-2738
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 59
Issue 10
Pages 870-872
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.035246