Life-course social class is associated with later-life diabetes prevalence in women: evidence from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

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Journal ArticleDate:
2020Access:
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Leahy, Siobhan, Canney, Mark, Scarlett, Siobhan, Anne Kenny, Rose, McCrory, Cathal, Life-course social class is associated with later-life diabetes prevalence in women: evidence from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Longitudinal and Life Course Studies, 2020Download Item:
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the independent and synergistic effects of childhood and adult
social class, as well as the effect of social mobility, on type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in later life.
Cross-sectional data from The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA) (n = 4,998), a
nationally representative probability sample of adults aged 50 and older, were analysed. Prevalent
diabetes was defined using subjective (self-reported doctor’s diagnosis) and objective data
(medications usage and glycated haemoglobin testing). Social class was classified as a three-level
variable based on fathers’ occupation in childhood and respondents’ primary occupation in
adulthood. A five-level social mobility variable was created from cross-classification of childhood
and adulthood social class. Logistic regression was employed to assess the relationship between
social class variables and T2D. Mean (SD) age of the sample was 63.8y (9.9) and 46.4% were
male. Incidence of T2D was 11.6% of men and 7.7% of women. Some 57.4% of the sample
were classified as Manual social class in childhood. Compared to those in Professional/Managerial
occupations, belonging to the Manual social class in childhood was associated with an increased
risk of T2D in men (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.36, 95% CI: 0.88, 2.10) and women (OR: 2.16,
95% CI: 1.21, 3.85). This association was attenuated in women when controlled for adulthood
social class (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 1.00–3.37), suggesting that the effect of childhood social class
may be modified by improving social circumstance over the life course.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/mccrorchttp://people.tcd.ie/rkenny
http://people.tcd.ie/sscarlet
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Bristol University PressType of material:
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Series/Report no:
Longitudinal and Life Course Studies;Availability:
Full text availableDOI:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/175795920X15786655004305ISSN:
1757-9597Metadata
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