RESEARCH NOTE - RECALL BIAS IN SELF-REPORTED CHILDHOOD HEALTH - DIFFERENCES BY AGE AND EDUCATIONAL-LEVEL

This study examines the impact of recall bias on self-reported childho od health. In a population of people aged from 25 to 74 years, childho od health was assessed retrospectively to explore its influence on soc io-economic inequalities in adult health. Data were obtained from a po stal survey in the baseline of a prospective cohort-study (the Longitu dinal Study on Socio-Economic Health Differences in The Netherlands). Childhood health was measured as self-reported periods of severe disea se in childhood. Relationships between childhood health on the one han d and adult educational level on the other were analysed using logisti c regression models. A negative association between childhood health p roblems and adult educational level was found in the youngest age grou p (25-34 years). In the older age groups, however, a lower adult socio -economic status was not clearly associated with more health problems in childhood. In view of what we know about socio-economic inequalitie s in childhood health in the past, it is likely that the lack of assoc iation between educational level and childhood health in the older age groups is (partly) caused by a recall bias. Using simple questions on self-reported childhood health problems, the measurement of childhood health in older age groups will be biased by differential recall betw een socio-economic groups. Other possibilities in the use of retrospec tive data in studying childhood health problems should be explored.