Abstract
Objective
To determine the contribution of psychological attributes (personality characteristics and coping styles) to the association between social class in childhood and adult health among men and women.
Design
Partly retrospective, partly cross sectional study conducted in the framework of the Dutch GLOBE study.
Subjects
Sample of general population from south east Netherlands consisting of 2174 men and women aged 25-74 years. Baseline self reported data from 1991 provided information on childhood and adult social class, psychological attributes, and general health.
Main outcome measure
Self rated poor health.
Results
Independent of adult social class, low childhood social class was related to self rated poor health (odds ratio 1.67 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 2.75) for subjects whose fathers were unskilled manual workers versus subjects whose fathers were higher grade professionals). Subjects whose fathers were manual workers generally bad more unfavourable personality profiles and more negative coping styles. External locus of control, neuroticism, and the absence of active problem focused coping explained about half of the association between childhood social class and self rated poor health. The findings were independent of adult social class and height
Conclusions
A higher prevalence of negative personality profiles and adverse coping styles in subjects who grew up in lower social classes explains part of the association between social class in childhood and adult health. This finding underlines the importance of psychological mechanisms in the examination of the negative effects of adverse socioeconomic conditions in childhood.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 7175 |
Journal | BMJ, British Medical Journal |
Volume | 318 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- SELF-RATED HEALTH
- LIVING-CONDITIONS
- HEART-DISEASE
- CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
- SOCIOECONOMIC POSITION
- MORTALITY
- RISK
- DETERMINANTS
- DEPRESSION
- HOSTILITY
Cite this
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Social class in childhood and general health in adulthood : Questionnaire study of contribution of psychological attributes. / Bosma, H; van de Mheen, HD; Mackenbach, JP.
In: BMJ, British Medical Journal, Vol. 318, 7175, 1999.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Social class in childhood and general health in adulthood
T2 - Questionnaire study of contribution of psychological attributes
AU - Bosma, H
AU - van de Mheen, HD
AU - Mackenbach, JP
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Objective To determine the contribution of psychological attributes (personality characteristics and coping styles) to the association between social class in childhood and adult health among men and women.Design Partly retrospective, partly cross sectional study conducted in the framework of the Dutch GLOBE study.Subjects Sample of general population from south east Netherlands consisting of 2174 men and women aged 25-74 years. Baseline self reported data from 1991 provided information on childhood and adult social class, psychological attributes, and general health.Main outcome measure Self rated poor health.Results Independent of adult social class, low childhood social class was related to self rated poor health (odds ratio 1.67 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 2.75) for subjects whose fathers were unskilled manual workers versus subjects whose fathers were higher grade professionals). Subjects whose fathers were manual workers generally bad more unfavourable personality profiles and more negative coping styles. External locus of control, neuroticism, and the absence of active problem focused coping explained about half of the association between childhood social class and self rated poor health. The findings were independent of adult social class and heightConclusions A higher prevalence of negative personality profiles and adverse coping styles in subjects who grew up in lower social classes explains part of the association between social class in childhood and adult health. This finding underlines the importance of psychological mechanisms in the examination of the negative effects of adverse socioeconomic conditions in childhood.
AB - Objective To determine the contribution of psychological attributes (personality characteristics and coping styles) to the association between social class in childhood and adult health among men and women.Design Partly retrospective, partly cross sectional study conducted in the framework of the Dutch GLOBE study.Subjects Sample of general population from south east Netherlands consisting of 2174 men and women aged 25-74 years. Baseline self reported data from 1991 provided information on childhood and adult social class, psychological attributes, and general health.Main outcome measure Self rated poor health.Results Independent of adult social class, low childhood social class was related to self rated poor health (odds ratio 1.67 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 2.75) for subjects whose fathers were unskilled manual workers versus subjects whose fathers were higher grade professionals). Subjects whose fathers were manual workers generally bad more unfavourable personality profiles and more negative coping styles. External locus of control, neuroticism, and the absence of active problem focused coping explained about half of the association between childhood social class and self rated poor health. The findings were independent of adult social class and heightConclusions A higher prevalence of negative personality profiles and adverse coping styles in subjects who grew up in lower social classes explains part of the association between social class in childhood and adult health. This finding underlines the importance of psychological mechanisms in the examination of the negative effects of adverse socioeconomic conditions in childhood.
KW - SELF-RATED HEALTH
KW - LIVING-CONDITIONS
KW - HEART-DISEASE
KW - CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE
KW - SOCIOECONOMIC POSITION
KW - MORTALITY
KW - RISK
KW - DETERMINANTS
KW - DEPRESSION
KW - HOSTILITY
U2 - 10.1136/bmj.318.7175.18
DO - 10.1136/bmj.318.7175.18
M3 - Article
VL - 318
JO - BMJ, British Medical Journal
JF - BMJ, British Medical Journal
SN - 0959-8138
M1 - 7175
ER -