THE CONTRIBUTION OF CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENT TO THE EXPLANATION OF SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH IN ADULT LIFE - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

In this study the contribution of childhood environment to the explana tion of socio-economic inequalities in health in adulthood is examined . Childhood environment was measured using indicators of social, socio -economic and material aspects. Retrospective data obtained from an or al interview, part of the Longitudinal Study on Socio-Economic Health Differences (a longitudinal study in the South East of the Netherlands ), were used. Indicators for socio-economic status at adult age were e ducational and occupational level, whilst health indicators included p erceived general health and self-reports of chronic conditions. The pe rcentage reduction in odds ratios of education and occupation after ad justment for childhood environment was used to estimate the contributi on of childhood environment. The results suggest that a substantial pa rt of differences in health between educational and occupational group s can be attributed to differences in childhood environment. Education al level of the mother, occupation of the father and financial situati on of the family are the most important childhood characteristics in t he explanation of socio-economic health differences in adult life. Dif ferent mechanisms of explanation concerning the contribution of childh ood environment to socio-economic differences in adult life are discus sed. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd