Explanations of socioeconomic differences in changes in physical function in older adults: results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

Annemarie Koster,Marjolein I Broese Van Groenou,Gertrudis Ijm Kempen,Hans Bosma,Jacques Thm Van Eijk,Brenda Wjh Penninx,Dorly Jh Deeg

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-6-244

Abstract

BackgroundThis study examines the association between socioeconomic status and changes in physical function in younger- (aged 55–70 years) and older-old (aged 70–85 years) adults and seeks to determine the relative contribution of diseases, behavioral, and psychosocial factors in explaining this association.MethodsData were from 2,366 men and women, aged 55–85 years, participating in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Two indicators of socioeconomic status were used: education and income. Physical function was measured by self-reported physical ability over nine years of follow-up.ResultsIn older adults, low socioeconomic status was related to a poorer level of physical function during nine years of follow-up. In subjects who were between 55 and 70 years old, there was an additional significant socioeconomic-differential decline in physical function, while socioeconomic differentials did not further widen in subjects 70 years and older. Behavioral factors, mainly BMI and physical activity, largely explained the socioeconomic differences in physical function in the youngest age group, while psychosocial factors reduced socioeconomic status differences most in the oldest age group.ConclusionThe findings indicate age-specificity of both the pattern of socioeconomic status differences in function in older persons and the mechanisms underlying these associations.

Highlights

This study examines the association between socioeconomic status and changes in physical function in younger- and older-old adults and seeks to determine the relative contribution of diseases, behavioral, and psychosocial factors in explaining this association
Low socioeconomic status (SES) is related to many adverse behavioral factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and decreasing physical activity, that in turn are related to poor functional outcomes [13,14,15,16]
The present study examines the association between SES and longitudinal changes in physical function in a representative sample of Dutch older adults, who participated in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam

Summary

Introduction

This study examines the association between socioeconomic status and changes in physical function in younger- (aged 55–70 years) and older-old (aged 70–85 years) adults and seeks to determine the relative contribution of diseases, behavioral, and psychosocial factors in explaining this association. Several factors, including biomedical, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, may be important in explaining these SES differences in physical function Biomedical factors, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes, are related to both low SES and adverse functional outcomes [8,9,10,11,12]. Psychosocial factors may be important in explaining SES differences in poor functional outcomes because people with low SES generally have fewer psychosocial resources than people with high SES [17,18,19]. Psychosocial factors, such as control beliefs and social support, are linked to ill health and poor functional outcomes [20,21,22]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion