Early Life Context, Childhood Stress Exposure and Dual Functionality in Later Life

• In Event: Aging and the Life Course Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): 3: Life Course Experiences and Exposures and Long-Term Health Trajectories

Abstract

Research on dual functionality, or being physically and cognitively healthy, has established linkages by gender, race, and education, but not by geographic origins. Furthermore, existing research looking at the relationship between place of origin and health neglects the role of the rural-urban context within region. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, I examined one’s early life residence in childhood and its linkages with the loss of dual functionality. Preliminary results revealed that being from the rural south is associated with functional loss at baseline, but also that those exposed to the south in childhood saw an earlier loss of their dual functionality than their counterparts from urban environments outside the south, especially if exposed to more childhood stress. Findings ultimately the signal the importance of place of childhood residence for old age health, and the importance of later life resources in mitigating the time to loss of function.

Author

• Michael S. Topping, University of Wisconsin-Madison