Tosi, M and Grundy, E (2019) 'Work-family lifecourses and later-life health in the United Kingdom.' Ageing and Society. ISSN 0144-686X

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Abstract

© 2019 Cambridge University Press. Socio-economic inequalities in physical and mental health persist at older ages and previous studies have shown that partnership and parenthood histories are also associated with differentials in later-life health. These domains of adult life interact, and both may be influenced by earlier life circumstances, indicating a need for a holistic approach to understanding lifecourse influences on health at older ages. In this paper, we identify classes of lifecourse types for a United Kingdom (UK) cohort born 1933-1945 and investigate differences between the latent classes identified in physical and mental health, and changes in health over a five-year follow-up period. Data were drawn from Waves 1-5 (2009-2013) of the nationally representative UK Household Longitudinal Study. Multi-level models were used to analyse associations with summary indicators of physical and mental health measured using the SF-12, and changes in health, controlling for childhood circumstances and taking account of support from family and friends in later life. Lifecourses characterised by lower socio-economic position, early parenthood and large family size were associated with worse physical and mental health in later life, with respondents who had combined a high socio-economic position and two children being the most advantaged. The study indicates that socio-economic disparities in later-life health vary depending on the way in which individuals combine work and family life.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute for Social and Economic Research
Depositing User:	Elements
Date Deposited:	02 Dec 2019 10:11
Last Modified:	16 Jan 2020 14:15
URI:	http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/26133

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