Early Social Origins of Biological Risks in Later Life: Indelible Insults?

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Abstract

This study investigates whether childhood exposures lead to adult chronic inflammation via adult health lifestyles and socioeconomic status (SES). Subsequently, we examine whether this process influences mortality risk. Finally, we explore whether gender moderates these relationships. Utilizing a longitudinal sample of 9,073 men and women aged 51 and older from the Health and Retirement Study, we found that socioeconomic disadvantage during childhood was associated with chronic inflammation but unhealthy lifestyles and lower SES in adulthood mediated this relationship. In our examination of mortality, we found that childhood socioeconomic disadvantage raised mortality risk whereas childhood infectious disease exerted a protective effect. Tests of mediation revealed that childhood socioeconomic led to unhealthy lifestyles and lower SES in adulthood, which increased inflammation levels, subsequently raising mortality risk. Childhood infectious diseases led to healthier lifestyles and higher SES in adulthood, which lowered inflammation levels, thereby reducing mortality risk. In addition, gender moderated the effect of childhood SES on health behaviors: the effect of childhood SES on smoking was stronger for men. Demonstrating how social forces shape health through multiple mechanisms can inform health policies by identifying multiple points of interventions in an effort to mitigate the long-term consequences of early-life exposures.

Authors

• Patricia M. Morton, Wayne State University

• Kenneth F. Ferraro, Purdue University