The role of income and occupation in the association of education with healthy aging: results from a population-based, prospective cohort study

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Philip D. St. John¹  Christine M. White²  Maryam Iraniparast²  Madelon R. Cheverie²  Suzanne L. Tyas² 

[1] Department of Medicine and Centre on Aging, Section of Geriatric Medicine, University of Manitoba, 820 Sherbrook Street, R3A 1R9, Winnipeg, MB, Canada;School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada;

关键词: Successful aging;    Healthy aging;    Educational status;    Income;    Occupations;    Gender;    Aged;    Cohort studies;    Logistic models;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-015-2504-9

 received in 2015-01-09, accepted in 2015-11-17,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe beneficial effects of higher education on healthy aging are generally accepted, but the mechanisms are less well understood. Education may influence healthy aging through improved employment opportunities that enhance feelings of personal control and reduce hazardous exposures, or through higher incomes that enable individuals to access better health care or to reside in better neighbourhoods. Income and occupation have not been explored extensively as potential mediators of the effect of education on healthy aging. This study investigates the role of income and occupation in the association between education and healthy aging including potential effect modification by gender.MethodsLogistic regression was used to explore the association of education, income (perceived income adequacy, life satisfaction with finances) and occupation (occupational prestige) with healthy aging five years later in 946 community-dwelling adults 65+ years from a population-based, prospective cohort study in Manitoba, Canada.ResultsHigher levels of education generally increased the likelihood of healthy aging. After adjusting for education, both income measures, but not occupation, predicted healthy aging among men; furthermore, the association between education and healthy aging was no longer significant. Income and occupation did not explain the significant association between education and healthy aging among women.ConclusionsPerceived income adequacy and life satisfaction with finances explained the beneficial effects of higher education on healthy aging among men, but not women. Identifying predictors of healthy aging and the mechanisms through which these factors exert their effects can inform strategies to maximize the likelihood of healthy aging.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© White et al. 2015