Early-Life Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity in Later Life
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between early-life socioeconomic status (SES) at age 18 and physical activity (PA) at age 65, elucidates mechanisms explaining this association, and explores gender differences in mediating pathways. METHODS: Multigroup structural equation modeling is applied to the 1957 to 2004 data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS). RESULTS: Early-life SES is positively associated with exercise in later life. This association is mediated by socioeconomic resources, health problems, obesity, and depressive symptoms (women only) in 1993 and sports participation in 1957. All mediators explain over 95% of the effect of early-life SES. DISCUSSION: This study emphasizes the importance of complex multiple pathways linking early family SES to later-life PA. We identify chains of risks that need to be broken to improve PA among older adults. Our findings also suggest that interventions aimed at maintaining optimal physical functioning in old age should begin at least at midlife.
Source: Journal of Aging and Health
Authors: Tetyana Pudrovska, Andriy Anishkin
Institution: Pennsylvania State University
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1463496663, G1847198746, Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Late-Life Mortality: Sex and Race Differences, G5040295917, The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study: Tracking the Life Course, LIFE HISTORIES AND MENTAL HEALTH IN MIDLIFE, G6376995420, The Wisconsin Longitudinal Study: As We Age, G917812803
OpenAlex ID: W2160228973