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Quantitative papers associated with various aspects of social structure published in the first 25 years of the journal, Sociology of Health and Illness, are identified. The journal's contribution to numerous sociological and social epidemiological debates is studied.

Background: Poor lung function in late life may stem from early-life risk factors, but the epidemiological evidence is inconsistent. We investigated whether individuals who experienced disadvantageous socioeconomic circumstances (SEC) in early life showed lower levels of respiratory function in older age, a steeper decline over time, and whether these relationships were explained by adult-life SEC, body mass index, and physical inactivity in older age.Methods: We used data from the Survey of Health Ageing and Retirement in Europe (2004-2015). Participants' peak expiratory flow (PEF) was assessed with a mini-Wright peak flow meter at second, fourth, and sixth waves. Confounder-adjusted linear mixed-effect models were used to examine the associations between early-life SEC and PEF in older age. A total of 21,734 adults aged 50-96 years (46,264 observations) were included in the analyses.Results: Older adults with disadvantaged early-life SEC showed lower levels of PEF compared with those with advantaged early-life SEC. The association between early-life SEC and late-life PEF persisted after adjusting for adult-life SEC, smoking, physical inactivity, and body mass index. PEF declined with age, but the effect of early-life SEC on this decline was not consistent across robustness and sensitivity analyses.Conclusions: Early life is a sensitive period for respiratory health. Further considering the effect of SEC arising during this period may improve the prevention of chronic respiratory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background We observed a lack of population-based longitudinal research examining the association of disadvantaged childhood socioeconomic circumstances (CSC) and disability [activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)] in older age, and whether socioeconomic attainments in adulthood can compensate for a poor socioeconomic start in life. Methods Data on 24 440 persons aged 50–96 in 14 European countries (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe) were used to measure the associations between CSC and limitations with ADL and with IADL, using mixed-effects logistic regression models. Models stratified by gender were adjusted for education during young adulthood, main occupation during middle age, ability to make ends meet during old age and potential confounding and control variables. Results Risks of ADL and IADL limitations increased with age and were different between women and men. For women, a gradient across CSC strata was observed, showing that the more disadvantaged the CSC, the higher the risk of ADL and IADL limitations in old age, even after adjustment for adult socioeconomic indicators. For men, the association between CSC and disability was mediated by the main occupation in middle age and the ability to make ends meet at older age. Conclusion Women who grew up in socioeconomically disadvantaged households were at higher risk of disability in older age and this disadvantage was not attenuated by favourable adult socioeconomic conditions. Men were more likely to make up for a disadvantaged start in adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-4446.2008.00209_3.x Byline: David Blane (1) Author Affiliation: (1)Imperial College London

There is much research about those who exit the labour market prematurely, however, comparatively little is known about people working longer and about their employment and working conditions. In this paper, we describe the employment and working conditions of men and women working between 65 and 80 years, and compare them with previous conditions of those retired in the same age group. Analyses are based on wave 4 data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) with information collected between 2009 and 2011 from 17,625 older men and women across 16 European countries. Besides socio-demographic and health-related factors (physical and mental health), the focus lies on employment conditions (e.g. employment status, occupational position and working hours) and on stressful working conditions, measured in terms of low control at work and effort-reward imbalance. In case of retired people, information on working conditions refer to the last job before retirement. Following descriptive analyses, we then conduct multivariable analyses and investigate how working conditions and poor health are related to labour market participation (i.e. random intercept models accounting for country affiliation and adjusted for potential confounders). Results illustrate that people working between the ages of 65 and 80 are more likely to be self-employed (either with or without employees) and work in advantaged occupational positions. Furthermore, findings reveal that psychosocial working conditions are generally better than the conditions retired respondents had in their last job. Finally, in contrast to those who work, health tends to be worse among retired people. In conclusion, findings deliver empirical evidence that paid employment beyond age 65 is more common among self-employed workers throughout Europe, in advantaged occupations and under-favourable psychosocial circumstances, and that this group of workers are in considerably good mental and physical health. This highlights that policies aimed at increasing the state pension age beyond the age of 65 years put pressure on specific disadvantaged groups of men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Interdisciplinary research and teaching often present similar challenges to investigators and teachers in higher education settings. Capturing and harnessing disciplinary knowledge from different fields to strengthen the process is desirable. However, in practice, this may be difficult to achieve. In this paper we set out a methodology developed in both research and teaching settings which has successfully brought researchers and participants from different disciplinary backgrounds together to work within a life course framework. Methods The methodology centres on using what we will describe as vignettes, or descriptive case histories and is divided into three stages. In stage 1 participants work together to write a vignette based on instructions. In stage two, participants work together in a group to analyse and deconstruct a different vignette. Here In stage 3 all groups present and discussed the analysed vignettes. Results We provide results from stage 1 on a specific vignette written by a group of participants. Here the participants get to grips with general life course concepts. In stage 2 participants learn about life course principles and constructs by deconstructing and analyzing a vignette. In stage 3 the participants are encouraged to shift from thinking about individuals, to population dynamics. Discussion We discuss the strengths and limitations of this method within the context of interdisciplinary life course research and teaching in higher education. Conclusion Using vignettes to both construct and deconstruct life courses has proved a useful tool for deriving new research questions and research material within the framework of life course theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]