Cohort by Education Interactions in Longitudinal Changes in Functional Abilities. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Finkel, Deborah; Ernsth Bravell, Marie
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 32:Number 3/4(2020)
• Page Start: 208
• Page End: 215
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: cumulative advantage -- health disparities -- latent growth curve models -- cohort differences; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264318814108
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: Investigations of cohort differences in relationships between education and health tend to focus on mortality or self-reported health. We report one of the first analyses of cohort differences in relationships between education and objective measures of functional abilities across the lifespan.Method: Up to 26 years of follow-up data were available from 859 adults from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. The sample was divided into two cohorts by birth year: 1900-1924 and 1925-1948. Latent growth curve models (LGCM) were compared across cohort and educational levels.Results: LGCM indicated divergence between adults with lower and higher educational attainment in longitudinal trajectories of change with age in the Balance and Flexibility factors for the later born cohort only.Discussion: Results support the cumulative advantage theory and suggest that education–health disparities are increasing in recent cohorts, even in counties with national health care systems and strong support of education.