Parental educational status independently predicts the risk of prevalent hypertension in young adults

Abstract

Identification of individuals at risk of hypertension development based on socio-economic status have been inconclusive, due to variable definitions of low socio-economic status. We investigated whether educational status of individuals or their parents predicts prevalent hypertension in young adult population, by analyzing data of more than 37,000 non-institutionalized subjects from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008 to 2017. Although low educational status of individual subjects was robustly associated with elevation of systolic blood pressure and increased prevalence of hypertension in general population, its impact on prevalent hypertension differed across age subgroups, and was remarkably attenuated in young adults. Parental educational status was significantly associated with prevalent hypertension in young adults, but not or only marginally in elderly population. Low parental educational status was also associated with high sodium intake in young adults, irrespective of subject’s own educational status. These collectively indicate that parental educational status, rather than individual’s own educational status, better and independently predicts prevalent hypertension in young adults, and that young adults with low parental educational status are prone to intake more sodium, possibly contributing to the increased risk of hypertension development. We expect that our findings could help define young individuals at risk of high sodium intake and hypertension.

Parental meta-emotion, attachment to parents, and personal agency in adolescents.

“…According to Dannefer and Huang Mgs (2017), cumulative risk experiences, in particular among those from relatively disadvantaged family backgrounds, impose important restrictions on youth’ sense of agency. For instance, unskilled parental occupations; unemployment; and retirement due to disability and older age (accompanied by significant financial difficulties) are factors that can impact youth’s choices (Guedes, 2015; Suh et al, 2021). Aware of their parents’ difficulties, adolescents tend to feel more inhibited to take risks and explore new paths.…”

Romantic and parental attachment, psychosocial risk, and personal agency in emerging adulthood

“…Some studies suggest that adverse life circumstances, such as low parental education, unskilled parental occupations, separation or divorce among parents, deaths of close relatives, and high residential mobility, can undermine individuals' development (Hitlin & Kirkpatrick Johnson, 2015;Spisma et al, 2015). Specifically, parents' low education and unskilled occupations have been associated with their children's health problems (Suh et al, 2021). Parental unemployment and retirement due to disability or older age, which are often accompanied by significant financial difficulties, have also been described as difficult situations that may impact the choices youth make (Guedes, 2015).…”

Associations between Milk and Dairy Product Intake, Urinary Sodium-to-Potassium Ratio, and Socioeconomic Status in Japanese Male Adolescents

“…Furthermore, higher SES was independently negatively associated with the spot urine Na/K ratio. Two previous studies in young people reported that the considered associations between SES and urinary electrolyte excretion in Australian children [16] and Korean young adults [33] were positively associated with urinary sodium. Although the item in this study was different from that of previous studies, the results of the current study in Japanese adolescent and child football players were consistent with these findings, suggesting that SES influences the urinary Na/K ratio even in adolescents.…”