Correspondence should be addressed to Tetyana Pudrovska, Department of Sociology and Criminology, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, 514 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802. E-mail:
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2014 May;69(3):451-60. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbt122. Epub 2014 Feb 4.
Using data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we examine (a) how socioeconomic status (SES) at age 18 affects all-cause mortality at ages 54-72, and (b) whether the effect of early-life SES is consistent with the critical period, accumulation of risks, social mobility, and pathway models. We also explore gender differences in the effect of early-life SES and life-course mechanisms.
Participants (N = 6,547) were surveyed in 1957, 1975, and 1993, with vital status established until 2011. We combine discrete-time survival analysis with structural equation modeling. SES and health behaviors are modeled as latent factors.
Early-life SES affects mortality indirectly via status attainment and health behaviors in adulthood and midlife. This finding is contrary to the critical period and consistent with the pathway model. Persistent disadvantage at three life stages is a strong risk factor for mortality, thus, supporting the accumulation of risks. Moreover, the mortality risk of individuals who experienced downward socioeconomic mobility is comparable to their peers with persistent disadvantage.
This study highlights the complexity of interrelated life-course processes underlying the effect of early-life SES on mortality in later life.
利用威斯康星纵向研究的数据，我们考察了（a）18 岁时的社会经济地位（SES）如何影响 54-72 岁时的全因死亡率，以及（b）早期 SES 效应是否与关键期、风险积累、社会流动和途径模型一致。我们还探讨了早期 SES 和生命历程机制对性别差异的影响。
参与者（N=6547）于 1957 年、1975 年和 1993 年接受调查，并在 2011 年之前确定了生存状况。我们将离散时间生存分析与结构方程模型相结合。SES 和健康行为被建模为潜在因素。
早期 SES 通过成年和中年的地位获得和健康行为间接影响死亡率。这一发现与关键期理论相悖，与途径模型一致。在三个生命阶段持续处于劣势是死亡的一个强风险因素，因此支持了风险积累的观点。此外，经历社会经济地位下降的个体的死亡率风险与持续处于劣势的同龄人相当。
本研究强调了生命历程过程的复杂性，这些过程是早期 SES 对晚年死亡率影响的基础。
