DOES CHILDHOOD SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS INFLUENCE ADULT HEALTH THROUGH BEHAVIORAL-FACTORS

Background The purpose of this study is to assess to what extent the e ffect of childhood socioeconomic status on adult health could be expla ined by a higher prevalence of unhealthy behaviour among those with lo wer childhood socioeconomic status. Methods Data were obtained from th e baseline of a prospective cohort study in the Netherlands (13 854 re spondents, aged between 25 and 74). Childhood socioeconomic group was indicated by occupation of the father, and adult health was indicated by perceived general health, health complaints and mortality. Adult so cioeconomic status was measured by current occupation. Behavioural fac tors were smoking, alcohol consumption, Body Mass Index and physical a ctivity. Relations were analysed using logistic regression models. Res ults A clear association between childhood socioeconomic circumstances and adult health was shown, as well as an association between childho od socioeconomic circumstances and health-related behaviour, even afte r adjustment for current socioeconomic status. Physical activity shows the strongest relation with childhood socioeconomic circumstances. Be havioural factors explain the relation between childhood socioeconomic status and adult health for approximately 10%. Conclusions Childhood socioeconomic circumstances have an independent effect on adult health and health-related behaviour: the risk of health problems and health damaging behaviour is higher in lower childhood socioeconomic groups. The independent effect of childhood circumstances on adult health oper ates for a small part through unhealthy behaviour.