DOES SOCIAL SUPPORT MEDIATE THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDHOOD EXPOSURES ON COGNITION IN LATER LIFE?. (11th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, M; Thomas, P; Ferraro, K
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 2(2018)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 465
• Page End: 465
• Publication Date: 2018-11-11
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.1741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Over the past few decades, substantial empirical evidence has accumulated supporting a link between early childhood exposures and health in later life. Increasingly, researchers call for studies on the mechanisms through which this relationship can be modified. Social relationships are particularly important for promoting health and longevity in older adults, yet relatively few studies examine how social relationships shape the early origins of adult health. This study examines pathways from childhood exposures to cognitive health in later life through multiple facets of adult social relationships (number of roles, social strain, and social support). Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, we test six domains of childhood exposures (socioeconomic status, risky parental behaviors, infectious diseases, chronic diseases, impairments, and risky adolescent behaviors) as predictors of social relationships in 2006 and cognition in 2006 and 2012. After adjusting for demographic and adult socioeconomic factors, experiencing multiple SES misfortunes, risky adolescent behaviors, and impairments in childhood are associated with both lower average social support (b=-0.090, -0.243, and -0.160, respectively) and higher social strain (b= 0.071, 0.060, 0.121, respectively) in later life, and any early chronic disease also increases average strain (b=0.056 and 0.066). Furthermore, one and two or more socioeconomic misfortunes in childhood were associated with lower cognition in 2012 (b=-0.505 and -0.884, respectively), whereas exposure to two or more infectious diseases was associated with higher cognition (b=1.192). Finally, analyses provide evidence that social relationships partially mediate the relationship between childhood exposures and cognition both cross-sectionally and over time.