Intergenerational educational mobility is associated with cardiovascular disease risk behaviours in a cohort of young Australian adults: The Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH) Study

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough educational disparity has been linked to single risk behaviours, it has not previously been studied as a predictor of overall lifestyle. We examined if current education, parental education or educational mobility between generations was associated with healthy lifestyles in young Australian adults.MethodsIn 2004-06, participant and parental education (high [bachelor degree or higher], intermediate [vocational training], low [secondary school only]) were assessed. Educational mobility was defined as: stable high (participant and parent in high group), stable intermediate (participant and parent in intermediate group), stable low (participant and parent in low group), downwardly (lower group than parent) and upwardly (higher group than parent) mobile. We derived a lifestyle score from 10 healthy behaviours (BMI, non-smoking, alcohol consumption, leisure time physical activity and six components of diet). Scores >4 indicated a high healthy lifestyle score. We estimated the likelihood of having a high healthy lifestyle score by education (participant and parent) and educational mobility.ResultsComplete data were available for 1973 participants (53% female, age range 26 to 36 years). Those with lower education were less likely to have healthy lifestyles. Parental education was not associated with having a high healthy lifestyle score after adjustment for participant's education. Those who moved upward or downward were as likely to have a high healthy lifestyle score as those in the group they attained.ConclusionsWe found clear disparities in health behaviour by participant education and intergenerational educational mobility. People attaining a higher level of education than their parents appeared protected from developing an unhealthy lifestyle suggesting that population-wide improvements in education may be important for health.

A Prospective Study of the Effects of Optimism on Adolescent Health Risks

“…Gender was a focus for interaction testing, because gender differences in the prevalence of the outcomes raised a possibility of different causal processes. 37 Transitional logistic GEE regression models were used to examine associations between optimism 12 months earlier and the onset of the outcomes studied. Those who had scored above the relevant cutoff point at the previous wave were excluded from these models.…”

“…Cronbach's ␣ for the scale was 0.89. Scores were coded on 3 levels: low (Ͻ25), intermediate (25 to Ͻ32), and high (32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45), which corresponded to the tertile scores at baseline.…”

Making the most of the mosaic: facilitating post-school transitions to higher education of disadvantaged students

“…There are life-long implications ''because research demonstrates that getting a university degree brings increased income, but also better health and wellbeing and greater civic participation'' (Walker 2008, p. 268;Gall et al 2010).…”

Potenzielle Bildungsaufsteiger leben gesünder

“…Umgekehrt zeigte sich, dass jugendliche Bildungsaufsteiger im Vergleich zu ihren Altersgenossen, die ihren Herkunftsstatus nicht über die Bildung verbessern konnten, ein deutlich risikoärmeres Gesundheitsverhalten entwickelten. Zu vergleichbaren Ergebnissen kommen Gall et al [6] in einer australischen Untersuchung, an der junge Erwachsene teilnahmen. In einer aktuellen Arbeit bestätigt Lampert am Beispiel des Tabakkonsums, dass westdeutsche und Berliner Jugendliche mit niedrigem Sozialstatus, die den Sprung auf ein Gymnasium geschafft haben, nicht signifikant häufiger rauchen als Gymnasiasten aus sozial besser gestellten Familien [18].…”