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Background: The impact of social isolation on social cognition is not entirely clear. Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between social isolation and social cognition. Methods: In a population-based sample of 83 individuals aged 50+ years without dementia, we assessed the relationship between social isolation (measured by the Lubben Social Network Scale - LSNS-6) and performance on emotional recognition (measured by the Emotion Recognition Task (ERT)) and on Theory of Mind (ToM) abilities (measured by the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET)), two core aspects of social cognition. Results: No significant association was found between social isolation and ToM abilities for both the unadjusted and adjusted models. Similarly, no significant association was observed between social isolation and emotion recognition. Conclusions: Further research is needed to understand the complex correlation between social relationships and cognitive health, particularly in different cognitive domains, adopting a life course perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the association between childhood adversity and fecundability (the per-cycle probability of conception), and the extent to which childhood social support modified this association. We used data from 6318 female participants aged 21-45 years in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a North American prospective preconception cohort study (2013-2022). Participants completed a baseline questionnaire, bimonthly follow-up questionnaires (until pregnancy or a censoring event), and a supplemental questionnaire on experiences across the life course including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and social support (using the modified Berkman-Syme Social Network Index [SNI]). We used proportional probabilities regression models to compute fecundability ratios (FRs) and 95% CIs, adjusting for potential confounders and precision variables. Adjusted FRs for ACE scores 1-3 and ≥4 vs 0 were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.85-0.97) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.91), respectively. The FRs for ACE scores ≥4 vs 0 were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.94) among participants reporting high childhood social support (SNI ≥4) and 0.78 (95% CI, 0.56-1.07) among participants reporting low childhood social support (SNI <4). Our findings confirm results from 2 previous studies and indicate that high childhood social support slightly buffered the effects of childhood adversity on fecundability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Intermittent fasting, such as during Ramadan, is prevalent among pregnant women. However, the association between Ramadan during pregnancy and offspring health along the life course has not been fully established. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE Fetal programming research indicates that prenatal exposures, particularly during early pregnancy, can cause long-term structural and physiological changes that adversely affect offspring health. Our objective was to systematically identify and assess the evidence regarding Ramadan during pregnancy. SEARCH METHODS A total of 31 studies were sourced from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and EconLit. Included studies evaluated outcomes in individuals with prenatal Ramadan exposure, compared to unexposed Muslim controls. Main outcomes were birth weight, gestational length, and sex ratio in newborns; height, mortality, and cognition in children; and disabilities, chronic diseases, and human capital accumulation in adults. Each study was evaluated for risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence was appraised using the GRADE system. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted for outcomes analyzed in at least three primary studies. OUTCOMES The initial search identified 2933 articles, 1208 duplicates were deleted. There were 31 publications fulfilled the eligibility criteria for the qualitative synthesis; 22 studies were included in meta-analyses. The overall quality of the evidence was low to moderate and differed by study design and outcome. Among newborns, prenatal Ramadan exposure was not associated with birth weight (mean difference (MD) −3 g (95% CI −18 to 11; I 2 = 70%) or the likelihood of prematurity (percentage point difference (PPD) 0.19 (95% CI −0.11 to 0.49; I 2 = 0%)). The probability that the newborn is male was reduced (PPD −0.14 (95% CI −0.28 to −0.00; I 2 = 0%)). This potentially reflects sex-specific mortality rates resulting from adverse in utero circumstances. In childhood, the exposed performed slightly poorer on cognitive tests (MD −3.10% of a standard deviation (95% CI −4.61 to −1.58; I 2 = 51%)). Height among the exposed was reduced, and this pattern was already visible at ages below 5 years (height-for-age z -score MD −0.03 (95% CI −0.06 to −0.00; I 2 = 76%)). A qualitative literature synthesis revealed that childhood mortality rates were increased in low-income contexts. In adulthood, the prenatally exposed had an increased likelihood of hearing disabilities (odds ratio 1.26 (95% CI 1.09 to 1.45; I 2 = 32%)), while sight was not affected. Other impaired outcomes included chronic diseases or their symptoms, and indicators of human capital accumulation such as home ownership (qualitative literature synthesis). The first trimester emerged as a sensitive period for long-term impacts. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Despite the need for more high-quality studies to improve the certainty of the evidence, the synthesis of existing research demonstrates that Ramadan during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring health effects in childhood and especially adulthood, despite an absence of observable effects at birth. Not all health effects may apply to all Muslim communities, which are diverse in backgrounds and behaviors. Notably, moderating factors like daytime activity levels and dietary habits outside fasting hours have hardly been considered. It is imperative for future research to address these aspects. REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO (CRD42022325770). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Interpersonal relevancy appraisals are a dynamic and understudied aspect of human social cognition. Despite their importance, there are no existing measures. This study developed and validated a new measure of self-perceived interpersonal threat, opportunity, and invisibility appraisals among a life-course sample of adults. We also explored the relationships between relevance appraisals, social connectedness, loneliness, age, and sex assigned at birth. Methods Items were developed based on a theoretical model of multidomain interpersonal relevance appraisals and refined following feedback from 5 experts in social psychology. Cross-sectional data were obtained online from a sample of 1,079 adults (age 18–90 years), recruited from the general population of Australia. Data were split into two pseudo-random samples used for (a) scale development and evaluation, and (b) assessment of internal consistency, construct validity, convergent validity with social connectedness and loneliness, and exploratory analysis with age and sex. Results Results support the factor structure and internal consistency of 17- and 9-item versions of the Perceived Interpersonal Relevancy Scales (PIRS) and measurement invariance across younger and older age groups. Higher self-perceived threat and invisibility appraisals were associated with decreased social network size, increased loneliness, younger age, and male sex. Higher self-perceived opportunity appraisals were associated with increased social network size and decreased loneliness. Discussion Results support this new measure of perceived interpersonal relevance appraisals, which shows relationships between the way we believe others perceive us, loneliness, and social isolation. The PIRS likely has wide utility for studies that seek to understand the intersections between human social cognition, well-being, and health across the lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives An individual's past, and reflections on it, may influence current and future well-being. Recent qualitative studies suggest retirees' recollections about their careers relate to well-being in retirement. We investigated associations between life course events and subjective career evaluations, gender differences in these associations, and their subsequent association with retirement adjustment. Methods We used data from 3 waves (2015, 2018, and 2023) of the NIDI Pension Panel Study (NPPS), a longitudinal survey of Dutch older workers. Using a sample of 6,109 respondents, we used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to investigate associations between employment stability facilitators and inhibitors (e.g. promotion, demotion, unemployment) and personal shocks (e.g. divorce, widowhood) and subjective evaluations of satisfaction with the work and family domains of career between genders. Using a follow-up sample (N  = 4,106), we employed ordinal logistic regression models to investigate the impact of these baseline subjective evaluations on retirement adjustment at follow-up. Results Employment stability factors such as demotion and unemployment, and personal shocks such as poor psychological health were associated with subjective evaluations of the work and family career domains. Gender differences in these associations were found. Evaluations in both the work and family domains were associated with retirement adjustment at follow-up. Discussion Our results demonstrate the importance of life course events on older workers' evaluations of their careers and the long-term impact of subjective career evaluations. Further research is needed to evaluate the predictive utility of these evaluations for other outcomes in older adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Using cohort analysis to examine the effects of sleep quality on loneliness among older adults from the life course perspective. Methods: The hierarchical age‐period‐cohort growth curve model was used to analyze the data from the 2005–2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Results: (1) Loneliness has a 'U' curve relationship with age, but with the rate of increase gradually slowing down. (2) There were significant differences in loneliness across birth cohorts, with younger cohorts having higher predicted loneliness than older cohorts at the same age. (3) The influence of different sleep quality on loneliness showed a trend of increasing with age. (4) There were no significant differences in the impact of sleep quality on loneliness in different cohorts. Conclusions: This study has identified heterogeneity in loneliness, emphasising the need for a diversified intervention approach. Sleep quality has a protective effect on loneliness and is easy to assess, making it an important intervention tool. In addition, it is imperative to account for the influences of age and cohort effects when formulating intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the response of the Disability Royal Commission (the Commission) to the experiences of the estimated 21,000 Australian parents with intellectual disabilities and their children. Research shows that interlocking complex social disadvantage and ableist professional attitudes toward parenting by people with intellectual disabilities persist, leading to very high rates of child protection and child removal. The approach taken by the Commission to examination of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation against parents with disabilities as a group led to the invisibility of parents with intellectual disabilities within the Final Report. The life course approach was narrowly conceived and did not fully capture reproductive justice across the life course. The issue of parenting and child protection contact was primarily considered in relation to First Nations families, which brought critical attention to some aspects of systemic violence and abuse, but issues and experiences of non-Indigenous parents with intellectual disabilities were absent. We argue that these and other flaws prevented the Commission from making important recommendations in relation to legal and policy reform to uphold the rights of people with intellectual disabilities to become parents and to receive the support they need for parenting over the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic, significant disruptions were experienced in the 2020 school year. Transitions to remote teaching and student dismissal from campuses contributed to higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and uncertainty about student futures. Many educational institutions in the U.S. had to cancel or modify commencement ceremonies in response to social distancing mandates. For emerging adults in college, those ages 18–25, the loss of a traditional graduation event made the transition out of school and into adult roles and responsibilities more challenging. This study, based on qualitative surveys of 38 graduates from the class of 2020 who attended a private liberal arts college and experienced a virtual graduation ceremony, reveals that without the formal closure on the liminal period of emerging adulthood and the college years, many graduates were struggling to feel a sense of being ready to move on to graduate school or adult working roles. The life course perspective is employed to examine the impacts of the disruptions to the educational experience and put the loss of rituals in context for emerging adults today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late transition to parenthood is no longer a phenomenon only observed in Europe; rather, it is even more prominent in high-income and low-fertility East Asian societies. Yet, there is a significant gap in the literature about the trends, causes and consequences of late child bearing in Asian societies. Underpinning the ultra-low fertility rates in high-income East Asian societies including Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan is the significant delay in transitioning to parenthood. The median age at first birth in these societies is now the oldest among all high-income societies globally, and more than 20 per cent of all first births occurred to women aged 35 and above. Taking a life course perspective to investigate the shifting age norm for parenthood and the causes of late parenthood would provide a more insightful understanding of the phenomenon. In addition, the consequences of late parenthood observed in Western countries are also likely to manifest in these societies, with intergenerational consequences deserving special attention within the Asian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective Background Results Conclusion Corporal punishment is the most common form of violence against children worldwide. This study adopts a life course perspective to examine associations between childhood corporal punishment and distinct multi‐decade family trajectories from young adulthood to middle adulthood in China. Specifically, it examines how childhood parental punishment shapes later family life course trajectory patterns, incorporating partnership, marriage, and fertility outcomes, and considers different sources of punishment (maternal and paternal) and potential gender differences (sons and daughters).Accumulating evidence reveals that corporal punishment is not only unnecessary as a disciplinary technique but also harmful to children. This evidence has led to a worldwide movement to eliminate any non‐accidental use of physical force against children. However, previous research often assesses isolated family outcomes without considering family development as a dynamic and interconnected process, resulting in an ambiguous understanding of childhood corporal punishment's long‐reaching influence on unfolding family pathways.Results uncovered both stability and diversity in Chinese family trajectories, with the majority following stable marital norms. Experiencing childhood corporal punishment increased the odds of an early unstable trajectory characterized by divorce and remarriage. Moreover, the implications of childhood paternal punishment appeared more wide‐ranging than maternal punishment in terms of sorting into normative versus atypical family trajectory patterns. Childhood maltreatment also overrides influences of child gender, similarly impacting future family trajectories across genders.This research highlights the profoundly disruptive effects of corporal punishment on family development throughout the lifespan, carrying important implications for fostering healthier and more resilient families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black adults' prior exposure to racial discrimination may be associated with their acute parasympathetic reactivity to and recovery from a new race‐related stressor. Existing analytical approaches to investigating this link obscure nuances in the timing, magnitude, and patterns of these acute parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) responses. In a re‐analysis of a prior study, we utilize an hidden Markov model (HMM) approach to examine how prior experiences of racial discrimination are associated with intraindividual patterns of (1) physiological states of PNS activity and (2) patterns of and variability in transitions between these physiological states. Participants (N = 118) were Black young adults (range 18–29 years; Mage = 19.67, SDage = 2.04) who completed an online survey to index prior racial discrimination exposure, followed by an in‐person lab visit during which their PNS activity in response to a race‐related stress task was measured via electrocardiogram and converted into respiratory sinus arrhythmia. HMMs indicated evidence for two states: baseline and a second state representing a significant reduction in respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Most participants (93.22%) demonstrated a blunted response to the task, indicating that they did not transition from baseline during the procedure. Prior racial discrimination was not associated with HMM states or state transition parameters. Blunted physiological responses may be an important area of future investigation that could inform early life course mental and physical health screenings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Method Results Conclusion Utilising the life course perspective as the theoretical framework, we investigate how women from different generations perceive their cooking experiences and articulate their feelings regarding this activity.Following a review of the literature and four exploratory focus groups, an interview guide was developed and piloted. Interviews were conducted with 22 Brazilian women spanning three distinct generations. Participants were prompted to recall their life stories, spanning from childhood to the present day and focused on cooking‐related situations. Interviews were transcripted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.There were three major themes developed. The first theme outlines variations in the food context across generations. The second theme encompasses perceptions of the responsibility for cooking as being linked to the female gender, indicating a generational shift from the role of the ‘cooking wife’ to that of the ‘cooking mother’. The third theme explores thoughts and reflections on feelings of obligation, oppression, and liberation in cooking, tied to changes in the social and temporal context in which these women operate.Strategies promoting cooking should consider the meanings attributed to it, contribute to the deconstruction of gender‐specific family dynamics, and encourage the pursuit for pleasure, satisfaction and autonomy in this practice. This study contributes novel insights into cooking, including reflections on obligation or oppression versus liberation and the evolving social roles of women as primary cooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Methods Results Conclusion Aiming to generate evidence on how contextual conditions shape individuals' opportunities and constraints and, ultimately, life courses, we focus on a period of childcare expansion in reunified Germany. We investigate differences in employment trajectories around mothers' first childbirths to identify potential East–West convergence.During Germany's division (1949–1990), universal public childcare and female full‐time employment were the norm in East Germany, while the male breadwinner model was dominant in the West. These differences, although declining, persisted even decades after reunification. In 2008, a reform aimed at expanding childcare availability to facilitate mothers' employment throughout the country.We measure East–West differences in employment trajectories around childbirth pre‐ (1990–2007) and post‐reform (2008–2021) in terms of timing, order, and duration of events over time. We use data on 359 East and 986 West German first‐time‐mothers from the German Socio‐Economic Panel and sequence analysis tools.Before the reform, employment trajectories between East and West German mothers differed both in timing and duration of employment states. After the reform, these differences decreased, showing a general convergence in the prevalence of post‐birth part‐time employment. Nonetheless, longer maternity leave is still more prevalent among West German mothers, while East German mothers are more likely to maintain full‐time jobs.Our findings show how policy settings and reforms shape life courses in a context‐dependent fashion. They illustrate the importance of a methodological approach that focuses on process outcomes and supports a theoretical perspective that highlights how historical time and place shape life courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: What is the association of plasma biomarker (amyloid-β 42 to amyloid-β 40 [Aβ42:Aβ40] ratio, phosphorylated tau at threonine [p-tau181], neurofilament light [NfL], glial fibrillary acid protein [GFAP]) changes from midlife to late life with all-cause dementia? Findings: In this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected plasma biomarkers from 1525 adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, only Alzheimer disease (AD)–specific (Aβ42:Aβ40, p-Tau181) biomarkers in midlife demonstrated significant long-term associations with late-life dementia. In late life, each of the biomarkers and their change from midlife were significantly associated with incident all-cause dementia. Meaning: AD-specific biomarkers' association with dementia starts in midlife whereas late-life measures of AD, neuronal injury, and astrogliosis biomarkers are all associated with dementia. Importance: Plasma biomarkers show promise for identifying Alzheimer disease (AD) neuropathology and neurodegeneration, but additional examination among diverse populations and throughout the life course is needed. Objective: To assess temporal plasma biomarker changes and their association with all-cause dementia, overall and among subgroups of community-dwelling adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: In 1525 participants from the US-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, plasma biomarkers were measured using stored specimens collected in midlife (1993-1995, mean age 58.3 years) and late life (2011-2013, mean age 76.0 years; followed up to 2016-2019, mean age 80.7 years). Midlife risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, lipids, coronary heart disease, cigarette use, and physical activity) were assessed for their associations with change in plasma biomarkers over time. The associations of biomarkers with incident all-cause dementia were evaluated in a subpopulation (n = 1339) who were dementia-free in 2011-2013 and had biomarker measurements in 1993-1995 and 2011-2013. Exposure: Plasma biomarkers of amyloid-β 42 to amyloid-β 40 (Aβ42:Aβ40) ratio, phosphorylated tau at threonine 181 (p-tau181), neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were measured using the Quanterix Simoa platform. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incident all-cause dementia was ascertained from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2019, from neuropsychological assessments, semiannual participant or informant contact, and medical record surveillance. Results: Among 1525 participants (mean age, 58.3 [SD, 5.1] years), 914 participants (59.9%) were women, and 394 participants (25.8%) were Black. A total of 252 participants (16.5%) developed dementia. Decreasing Aβ42:Aβ40 ratio and increasing p-tau181, NfL, and GFAP were observed from midlife to late life, with more rapid biomarker changes among participants carrying the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOEε4) allele. Midlife hypertension was associated with a 0.15-SD faster NfL increase and a 0.08-SD faster GFAP increase per decade; estimates for midlife diabetes were a 0.11-SD faster for NfL and 0.15-SD faster for GFAP. Only AD-specific biomarkers in midlife demonstrated long-term associations with late-life dementia (hazard ratio per SD lower Aβ42:Aβ40 ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02-1.21; per SD higher p-tau181, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.06-1.25). All plasma biomarkers in late life had statistically significant associations with late-life dementia, with NfL demonstrating the largest association (1.92; 95% CI, 1.72-2.14). Conclusions and Relevance: Plasma biomarkers of AD neuropathology, neuronal injury, and astrogliosis increase with age and are associated with known dementia risk factors. AD-specific biomarkers' association with dementia starts in midlife whereas late-life measures of AD, neuronal injury, and astrogliosis biomarkers are all associated with dementia. This cohort study characterizes temporal changes in plasma biomarkers, identifies factors associated with changes in plasma biomarkers over time, and evaluates the prospective associations of plasma biomarkers with late-life all-cause dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the film "Mary Poppins" and its portrayal of personal growth, intergenerational connections, and community bonds. It critiques societal norms and emphasizes the importance of empathy, creativity, and mutual support. The film highlights the benefits of intergenerational interactions in combating social isolation and promoting well-being. The article suggests that the film's messages are still relevant today as societies address issues such as aging and the need for greater intergenerational understanding and support. [Extracted from the article]

The life course approach scrutinizes factors that shape the development of diseases over time. Tooth loss, which is influenced by social, behavioral and biological factors, can occur at various stages of life and tends to become more prevalent in later years. This systematic review examined the influence of socioeconomic, psychosocial, biological and behavioral adversities in life on the likelihood of tooth loss. Searches were conducted in the Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, PsycINFO, Scopus and LILACS databases. Reference management was performed using EndNote online. The risk of bias was appraised using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). The electronic searches yielded 1366 records, 17 of which (13 cohort and four cross-sectional studies) met the inclusion criteria. According to the NOS, all studies had a low risk of bias. Two studies found a link between a lower education and higher incidence of tooth loss and socioeconomic status exerted a significant influence in 47% of the studies. Disadvantaged socioeconomic trajectories and health-related factors, such as smoking, general health perception and oral health behaviors, increased the likelihood of tooth loss. Factors such as dental visits, a history of toothache and exposure to fluoridated water influenced the likelihood of tooth loss. Individuals who experienced adversities in socioeconomic, behavioral and biological aspects throughout their life course were more prone to tooth loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are well‐established risk factors for self‐harm and depression. However, despite their high comorbidity, there has been little focus on the impact of developmental timing and the duration of exposure to ACEs on co‐occurring self‐harm and depression. Methods: Data were utilised from over 22,000 children and adolescents participating in three UK cohorts, followed up longitudinally for 14–18 years: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) and the Environmental Risk (E‐Risk) Longitudinal Twin Study. Multinomial logistic regression models estimated associations between each ACE type and a four‐category outcome: no self‐harm or depression, self‐harm alone, depression alone and self‐harm with co‐occurring depression. A structured life course modelling approach was used to examine whether the accumulation (duration) of exposure to each ACE, or a critical period (timing of ACEs) had the strongest effects on self‐harm and depression in adolescence. Results: The majority of ACEs were associated with co‐occurring self‐harm and depression, with consistent findings across cohorts. The importance of timing and duration of ACEs differed across ACEs and across cohorts. For parental mental health problems, longer duration of exposure was strongly associated with co‐occurring self‐harm and depression in both ALSPAC (adjusted OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.10–1.25) and MCS (1.18, 1.11–1.26) cohorts. For other ACEs in ALSPAC, exposure in middle childhood was most strongly associated with co‐occurring self‐harm and depression, and ACE occurrence in early childhood and adolescence was more important in the MCS. Conclusions: Efforts to mitigate the impact of ACEs should start in early life with continued support throughout childhood, to prevent long‐term exposure to ACEs contributing to risk of self‐harm and depression in adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We examine age-related differences in implicit and explicit memory tasks, and test the impact of future time perspectives on priming and cued recall. Methods: We induced time perspective in young (limited-time perspective) and older (extended-time perspective) adults. Implicit and explicit memory tasks were performed by younger and older adults. Results: Results showed an age-related effect on priming and cued recall, confirming that implicit and explicit memory are impaired in aging. Nevertheless, manipulation of future time perspective eliminated age differences in priming and cued recall. Discussion: These findings support the view that it is not age per se that determines memory performance but rather the perception of the time left to us. Socio-emotional selectivity theory thus seems to be a serious candidate to explain age-related differences in implicit and explicit memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marriage is a key adult milestone yet is also considered a greedy institution that monopolizes resources, jeopardizing adult children's financial transfers to aging parents. As the age at which marriage shifts later into adulthood, this study examines whether marriage still operates as a greedy institution, considering the role of marital timing on upward financial transfers to aging parents. Using data from Waves I–V of Add Health and Wave I of the Add Health Parent Questionnaire from 1994 to 2018, we examined whether timing of marriage (never, early, on time, and late) was associated with adult children's upward financial transfers to their parents, accounting for variation across gender, race, and ethnicity. Adult children who never married were the largest group who gave upward financial transfers to their aging parents (33%). Results suggested that marriage or timing of marriage was a greedy institution among men, women, white, Hispanic, and Asian adults, but not Black adults, suggesting heterogeneity in the role of marriage on family support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent complexity of the university system, with diverse academic trajectories and varying socio‐demographic characteristics of students, has led to increased access for historically underrepresented students. This has resulted in a rising number of adult learners, students with external responsibilities and individuals returning to education. However, despite this enhanced access, it remains unclear whether it has improved graduation. This uncertainty stems from the fact that students' social circumstances and external responsibilities differ significantly based on when they enter university. From a life course perspective, the aim of this paper is to explore the interactive effects of age at university entrance and employment status on the probability of graduating of an entire cohort of new students who entered the Catalan Higher Education System in 2012 (N = 29,463). The results show an interaction effect between age and employment status on the probability of graduation where working decreases the probability of graduation among students younger than 42 years old. Conversely, the negative impact of employment on university graduation diminishes among students entering university at an older age. This underscores the importance of adopting a life course perspective to comprehend students' educational experiences and outcomes within higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We contribute to research on social inequalities in educational attainment by examining the role of institutional contexts for students' study abroad (SA) intent and participation. To do so, we extend the individual-level rational choice model predicting SA intent and participation depending on students' socioeconomic status (SES) into a multi-level model emphasizing the importance of context effects. We test our model based on unique micro-level student data, which we supplement with context data. Examining 18,510 students nested in 69 universities, we provide the first in-depth multi-level analyses of SA intent and participation of students from Japan. In line with findings from many Western countries, our results show that higher-SES students are more likely to (intend to) study abroad. Regarding the role of institutional contexts, we find that programs designed to improve SA opportunity structures hardly affect students' SA intent but significantly positively affect SA participation above and beyond other university-level and student-level characteristics. Importantly, both lower- and higher-SES students benefit from favorable SA opportunity structures. These findings suggest that Japan's recent push toward internationalization of higher education has created relevant SA opportunities for students from different social backgrounds. Still, higher-SES students are currently overrepresented among those studying abroad because they are more likely to select into universities offering favorable SA opportunity structures. Our analysis calls for more research combining individual-level with contextual-level theories and data to better understand the conditions shaping SES-specific SA intent and participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the extent to which dental care factors in adulthood modify and, at the same time, mediate the association between race/ethnicity and social mobility from childhood to adulthood with two oral health outcomes in adults. Methods: In 2012, 1222 individuals 20–59 years old participated in the second wave of the Epi‐Floripa Study in Florianopolis, Brazil. Exposures included social mobility based on adulthood and childhood events, dental care in previous years, type of dental care coverage, reason for dental visits and race. The number of missing and decayed teeth were dichotomised as MT >0 and DT >0. Results: The prevalence of missing and decayed teeth was 61.9% and 23.0%, respectively. Age–sex adjusted inequalities in decayed and missing teeth among Black and White individuals were 41.2 percentage points (pp) (95% CI: 3.9–78.7) and 53.1 pp (19.5:86.7), respectively. Inequalities between those persistently higher and lower in socioeconomic position were 42.6 pp (14.6–70.7) and 90.0 pp (62.1–100). The Relative Excess of Risk due to Interaction (RERI) was not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Oaxaca‐Blinder decomposition analyses showed that dental care variables accounted for a small proportion of inequalities. Conclusions: This result implies that dental care is unlikely to significantly reduce or increase oral health inequalities in this particular population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Advance care planning (ACP), which comprises a living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPAHC), and end-of-life discussions, is an inherently relational process. However, it is unclear how marital status affects men's and women's ACP over the life course. Drawing on social control and gender-as-relational frameworks, we examine marital status differences in ACP and how these patterns differ by gender and age. Methods Data are from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a representative sample of U.S. older adults (N  = 7,074). We estimate logistic regression models to evaluate whether marital status differences in ACP are moderated by age and gender, and multinomial logistic regressions to examine age and gender differences in DPAHC designations among married parents. Analyses are adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. Results Multivariable analyses revealed significant moderation effects for discussions only. Among married/cohabiting persons, women are more likely than men to have end-of-life discussions, with gender differences diminishing slightly at oldest ages. Among divorced persons in their 60s and 70s, women are much more likely than men to have had discussions, although this gap converges among the oldest-old. Conversely, young-old widowed men and women are equally likely to have discussions, although women are increasingly likely to do so with advancing age. Men are more likely than women to name their spouse as DPAHC, yet this gap diminishes with age. Discussion Healthcare providers can better guide end-of-life consultations if they understand how men's and women's family relationships change with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our study examines the rarely investigated associations between body dissatisfaction and educational level over the life course in women and men. Methods: A Finnish cohort (N = 1955) was followed by questionnaires at ages 22, 32, 42, and 52. Body dissatisfaction was measured by asking the respondents to evaluate their appearance using five response options. Analyses were done using logistic regression, while latent class analyses were used to identify classes of body dissatisfaction trajectories over the life course. Results: Body dissatisfaction increased with age in women and men. Among men, body dissatisfaction was related to lower education at the ages of 32 and 42. Also, men with lower education were more likely to maintain a less positive body image over the life course. In women, increasing body dissatisfaction during the life course was associated with lower education. Conclusions: Differences in body dissatisfaction based on educational level are important to take into account in public health actions aiming to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literature review of recent prevalence and prospective studies on interpersonal violence (IPV) identifies a link among child abuse, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse that had not emerged from life-stage-specific studies on abuse, neglect, and violence against older persons. In line with a developmental understanding of IPV from a life course perspective, early life trauma is emerging as an explanatory theory of IPV across the life course. This paradigm shift in the field of elder abuse challenges more traditional explanations of IPV in old age, such as ageism, but opens up new opportunities for interventions leading to prevention and treatment of abuse, neglect, and violence against older adults. Prevalence studies that include older subjects and questions about violence experienced as children and younger adults consistently identify child abuse as a risk factor for IPV experienced in old age. Similarly, prospective studies on IPV that follow subjects from childhood to old age identify lifetime patterns of abuse. Qualitative studies of IPV in old age that include retrospective data suggest a link as well. IPV perpetrated against children and adults of all ages by persons in positions of trust can lead to trauma that has adverse lifelong behavioral and relational implications. This provides a link between trauma theory and violence against older people. Until recently, abuse, neglect, and violence were conceptualized differently based on the life stage of the victim. While historically the definitions for partner and non-partner violence diverged based on the life stage of victims, more recently this has begun to converge. Understanding violence from a life course and trauma-informed perspective better identifies risk factors and interventions for IPV against older adults. Intersectionality of age and gender variables demonstrate differences and similarities among populations studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remain an important public health concern for people of all age groups, with older age groups experiencing a notable increase in STI burden. Historically, most research into STI risk behaviors has focused on adolescents and young adults, leaving a paucity of research on the ways STI risk factors change over the life course. Additionally, age and cohort trends in STI risk factors can be challenging to investigate with standard statistical tools as they can be collinear and are subject to sociocultural and generational influences. To help address these issues, we used multi-group latent class analysis to identify and compare risk behavior profiles defined by responses to three sexual activity and three substance use variables, across and within four age groups. We identified six behavior profiles in the unstratified dataset and five behavior profiles in each of the four age stratified groups. The five behavior profiles identified in each of the age categories appear to reflect a similar set of five underlying profile "archetypes," with the exact composition of each age category's five profiles varying in the magnitude that specific behaviors are endorsed. Interestingly, despite the similarity of profiles across the four age groups, analyses indicate that the experience of belonging to any one of these five archetypes differs by age group. This variance is likely due group specific age, period, and cohort effects, and may indicate that, when estimating one's STI risk, it is better to compare them to their peers than to the population as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the economic benefits of internal migration are widely documented, the social costs of internal migration have received comparatively less attention. In addition, most studies focus on the impact of the last-recorded migration, ignoring the cumulative impact of successive migrations. Grounded in the life-course trajectory approach to migration and the convoy model of social networks, this paper addresses this gap by applying sequence and cluster analysis to retrospective data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 26 European countries to establish internal migration trajectories based on the timing, frequency, and direction of migration between NUTS-2 regions. The results reveal that differences in social networks between lifetime stayers, childhood migrants and one-time adult migrants are minimal. A more complex picture emerges for repeat migrants who account for half migrants and are split between return migrants, serial onward migrants, and circular migrants. Regression results show that repeat migrants – whether onward, return, or circular – display social networks less focused on family and more geographically dispersed, which results in a lower frequency of contact than lifetime stayers. However, repeat migrants report the same level of overall satisfaction with their social networks as lifetime stayers, which suggests that they start with different expectations than stayers or simply adjust their expectations in response to the social costs and benefits of migration. • Migrating once over the life course has a limited effect on an individual's social networks compared to lifetime stayers. • The impact of past migrations on social networks diminishes over time, particularly if migrations occurred early in life. • Repeat migrants have more geographically dispersed and less family-focused social networks compared to lifetime stayers. • Circular migrants report the most dispersed network and the lowest frequency of contact among repeat migrants. • Integration of the convoy model from social networks literature with the life-course trajectory approach from migration literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We propose a life course theoretical framework for understanding variation in family life courses between birth cohorts (historical time), societies (place), and social groups (social location). Building on the life course paradigm, we explain how key predictors on different levels of analysis can reinforce, precondition, counteract, preclude, or alter each other's influence on family life courses in specific contexts. The proposed framework re‐organizes and extends core principles of the life course paradigm into family life course predictors and outcomes on the individual, relational, and population levels. Background: The life course approach is a well‐recognized interdisciplinary paradigm in family research but often remains too abstract to guide hypotheses about family life course variation. Method: We demonstrate the utility of the proposed framework with a qualitative case study on family life courses in Senegal and a quantitative case study on family life course change between Baby Boomer and Millennial cohorts in the United States using sequence analysis. Results: Findings of the two example applications support that fertility decline in Senegal was primarily driven by material considerations and not by ideational change and that family life course de‐standardization was greater between White Baby Boomers and Millennials compared to Black Boomers and Millennials. Conclusion: Developing narrower mid‐range theories that fill the basic life course principles with substantive content and target specific fields of application, such as family life courses, is promising to advance life course theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although family scholars have long relied on longitudinal data, electronic methods of data collection like web‐ and app‐based surveys have greatly increased the amount of data with many repeated measures at short intervals, sometimes called intensive longitudinal data. The authors provide a conceptual overview of this type of data, paying particular attention to the appropriate frequency for the intervals, and discuss some of the unique contributions to Life Course Theory that can be generated with such data. They illustrate two analytic techniques that especially benefit from an intensive longitudinal design—sequence analysis and between‐within regression—by applying these methods to intensive longitudinal data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life Study that represent a "micro life course" of pregnancy risk (partnering, pregnancy desire, sex, and contraception) during the transition to adulthood. Their sequence analysis shows that singlehood, hormonal contraception, or partnered abstinence dominated most young women's micro‐life courses. Black/African‐American young women's micro life courses were similarly dominated by singlehood but were even more frequently dominated by partnered abstinence than their non‐Black/African‐American peers'. However, Black/African‐American women's micro life courses were less stable, potentially explaining their higher undesired pregnancy rates. A between‐within regression model shows that Black/African‐American coital contraceptors were less likely than their non‐Black/African‐American peers to use withdrawal (rather than condoms). They conclude by suggesting some potential ways that intensive longitudinal data capturing micro‐life courses can contribute to important outstanding research questions in family research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Guided by a life course perspective and fundamental cause theory, this study aims to visualize co-trajectories of health between partners and examine how changes in one spouse's cognitive status can cohesively impact the health of the other spouse along three dimensions (functional, mental, and cognitive). Methods: Drawing longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study 2000–2016 (N = 3582), we measure women's health profiles by functional limitation (physical health), depression (mental health), and cognitive function (cognitive health). We use multivariate linear mixed models to summarize these paths in the same visual representation. Results: The approach provides a visualization tool that depicts data and model in the same spatial representation allowing assessment of model fit and comparison. This study advances the traditional life course studies by representing underlying processes as a multidimensional time vector of health outcomes. Discussion: The described approach provides a blueprint for studying complex health profiles or trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jail incarceration remains an overlooked yet crucial component of the U.S. carceral system. Although a growing literature has examined the mortality costs associated with residing in areas with high levels of incarceration, far less is known about how local jails shape this burden at the intersection of race, sex, and age. In this study, I examine the relationship between county-level jail incarceration and age-specific mortality for non-Hispanic Black and White men and women, uniquely leveraging race-specific jail rates to account for the unequal racial distribution of jail exposures. This study finds evidence of positive associations between mortality and jail incarceration: this association peaks in late adulthood (ages 50–64), when increases in jail rates are associated with roughly 3% increases in mortality across all race–sex groups. However, patterns vary at the intersection of race, sex, and age. In particular, I find more marked and consistent penalties among women than among men. Additionally, a distinctly divergent age pattern emerges among Black men, who face insignificant but negative associations at younger ages but steep penalties at older ages—significantly larger among those aged 65 or older relative to their White male and Black female counterparts. Evidence further suggests that the use of race-neutral incarceration measures in prior work may mask the degree of harm associated with carceral contexts, because the jail rate for the total population underestimates the association between jail rates and mortality across nearly all race–age–sex combinations. These findings highlight the need for future ecological research to differentiate between jail and prison incarceration, consider the demographic distribution of incarceration's harms, and incorporate racialized measures of exposure so that we may better capture the magnitude of harm associated with America's carceral state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future populations of older adults in the UK, those aged 65+, will demonstrate increased diversity in terms of their ethnic identity resultant from the ageing of the post-war migrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Caribbean. As a consequence, there will be an increase in the numbers of older adults from these communities living with age-related chronic diseases such as dementia. In response to these demographic changes, we need to develop a research, policy and practice agenda that is inclusive and provides evidence for the development of culturally diverse and effective models of service delivery. This requires engagement with three key stakeholder groups: (a) people with dementia; (b) their carers; and (c) the wider community. As part of the IDEAL research programme on living well with dementia, we undertook semi-structured interviews with twelve community leaders, defined as known and trusted individuals active in their respective communities, and six community members (two people living with dementia and four carers). We explored their understandings, experiences, and views of about dementia. Our analysis identified two overarching themes. The migrant lifecourse highlighted issues of not belonging, discrimination and racism. This framed our second theme, the cultural context of dementia, which addressed dementia knowledge and attitudes, service provision and service access, and how being part of a minority ethnic community made a difference to these experiences. Our study highlights how lifecourse experiences of negative hostile social and policy environments and services can be profound and long-lasting and provide a prism through which accessing dementia care is experienced. Our findings argue for the inclusion of diverse views and lifecourse experiences within the context of developing a dementia strategy for research, policy and practice that is appropriate for a multicultural and heterogenous society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study is to gain knowledge about the transition to living with formal home care for cohabiting partners. Data consist of 14 interviews with partners aged 64–85, most with extensive experience of home care. Grounded in a life course perspective, the study identified the key factors in the process of becoming an ‘inadvertent care user’, and two modes for that transition: (1) adaptions and negotiations that involve adjustments shaped by institutional regulations; (2) new roles and positions, where partners acted as guardians or mediators, but also developed new friendships. The introduction of home care often brought partners a sense of relief. While many adjustments were seen as necessary compromises, the unpredictable nature of staff visits necessitated unwelcome adaptations. The study provides new knowledge about how cohabitating partners' lives are affected by home care and the strategies they employ in the presence of care workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored the influence of the life course on mental health by identifying key trends, seminal works, and themes in existing research. Additionally, it highlights the major discussions at the intersection of life course and mental health. Methods: Documents were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), to systematically analyze themes on mental health outcomes across the life course. The analysis was based on key bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer 1.6.11, R Studio software, and GraphPad Prism 9 to analyze the evolution and impact of scholarly contributions in this domain. Results: The accumulated body of research concerning the life course's impact on mental health, which began to emerge around 1990 displayed a consistently upward trend. Predominant contributions originate from developed nations and frequently look into the psychosocial determinants of mental health over life course. Life course and mental health studies have been extensively infused with biopsychosocial frameworks that consider the role of genetic makeup, neurodevelopment, cognition, affect, sociocultural dynamics, and interpersonal relationships. Life course theory application in mental health highlight the substantive effects of accumulated adversities, notably social determinants of health, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and their implications for subsequent mental health outcomes. Conclusion: The nexus of life course and mental health outcomes demands further scholarly interrogation, particularly within underserved regions, to strengthen protective mechanisms for vulnerable populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in life-course epidemiology offers remarkable opportunities to advance our understanding of the complex interplay between biological, social, and environmental factors that shape health trajectories across the lifespan. This perspective summarizes the current applications, discusses future potential and challenges, and provides recommendations for harnessing ML and AI technologies to develop innovative public health solutions. ML and AI have been increasingly applied in epidemiological studies, demonstrating their ability to handle large, complex datasets, identify intricate patterns and associations, integrate multiple and multimodal data types, improve predictive accuracy, and enhance causal inference methods. In life-course epidemiology, these techniques can help identify sensitive periods and critical windows for intervention, model complex interactions between risk factors, predict individual and population-level disease risk trajectories, and strengthen causal inference in observational studies. By leveraging the five principles of life-course research proposed by Elder and Shanahan—lifespan development, agency, time and place, timing, and linked lives—we discuss a framework for applying ML and AI to uncover novel insights and inform targeted interventions. However, the successful integration of these technologies faces challenges related to data quality, model interpretability, bias, privacy, and equity. To fully realize the potential of ML and AI in life-course epidemiology, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, developing standardized guidelines, advocating for their integration in public health decision-making, prioritizing fairness, and investing in training and capacity building are essential. By responsibly harnessing the power of ML and AI, we can take significant steps towards creating healthier and more equitable futures across the life course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current quantitative study, we explored the perceived contribution of residential care (PCRC) to multiple life domains and the factors associated with these perceptions from three main stages in Israelis' care leavers' lives: precare, in care, and postcare. Drawing on a representative sample of 2,295 care leavers' retrospective reports, integrated with their longitudinal administrative records, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis and identified two constructs pertaining to participants' PCRC. The first focused on contribution to personal development, and the second on contribution to achieving tangible and intangible life outcomes. In-care experiences of peer and staff support were strong predictors of both perceived personal development and life outcomes. Only a few precare factors and none of the postcare factors were predictive of PCRC. Specifically, PCRC was lower among men compared with women. Additionally, compared to Israeli-born participants, PCRC to personal development was lower among Ethiopian immigrants but higher in the life outcomes domain. PCRC was also higher in both domains among participants whose parents had a criminal conviction. In the Discussion section, we highlight the importance of understanding care leavers' perceptions in relation to different life course stages. Implications for policy and practice in care and postcare are discussed. Public Policy Relevance Statement: Israeli young adults who were in their adolescence in educational residential care hold positive views regarding the impact of their care experiences on their personal development and various life outcomes. Peer relations and staff support emerged as strong predictors of perceived residential care contribution. Residential care could be a suitable out-of-home placement alternative that promotes youths' well-being in their young adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent trends indicate a significant increase in the number of families opting for home education in the UK, yet research dedicated to this area remains limited. Moreover, there is a notable scarcity of studies focusing on the lived experiences of home-educating families of young children. Amidst this context, a new conceptual framework was developed combining the portraiture approach and the life course theory to study five families with young children in the UK. Semi-structured interviews, observations, and curriculum document analysis were used to gain insights into these families' experiences. The study revealed diverse motivations driving parents to choose home education, including concerns about the traditional education system, a preference for personalized learning, and personal lifestyle choices and ideologies. The research data presented suggests that participants had diverse and dynamic daily routines shaped by their unique educational philosophies. In general, parents consistently sought beneficial opportunities to foster their children's social development. Challenges participants faced included curriculum suitability, financial burdens, and managing dual roles within the home. However, participants viewed these challenges as worthwhile because their main aim of educating their children in a purposeful manner was being met. In line with the theme of parental autonomy in education, parents shared their belief in the freedom for families to educate their children outside traditional schools. They supported flexi-schooling, advocated for accessible resources, the inclusion of home-educated children in assessments, and government funding provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretically, purpose serves as a basic dimension of healthy psychological functioning and an important protective factor from psychopathology. Theory alone, however, is insufficient to answer critical questions about human behavior and functioning; we require empirical evidence that explores the parameters of purpose with respect to measurement, prediction, and modification. Here, we provide empirically supported insights about how purpose can operate as a beneficial outcome (e.g., marker of well-being), a predictor or mechanism that accounts for benefits that a person derives (such as from an intervention), or a moderator that offers insight into when benefits arise. Advancing the study of purpose requires careful consideration of how purpose is conceptualized, manipulated, and measured across the lifespan. Our aim is to help scientists understand, specify, and conduct high-quality studies of purpose in life. Public Significance Statement: This article reviews and synthesizes what is known about the nature and benefits of human beings possessing and working toward a purpose in life. We detail the various ways that a purpose can serve a person and the specific ways that psychologists and other mental health professionals can study and target this highly desirable psychological resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of sexuality in the ageing population had a more recent development than other topics, even though it is undoubling its relevance as part of the well-being of each individual. Therefore, to advance more in research is essential to look back and have a prospect of what kind of research has been done on it, identifying gaps in the literature for future studies. This paper aims to present a panorama of the research on sexuality and ageing in Latin America for the last five years (2017–2021). The data collection was done through the Web of Science platform and focused on those papers with the SciELO Citation Index, one of the most prestigious indexations among Latin-American journals. There were included papers from Latin-American countries written in Spanish or English. There were analyzed 26 research articles in total. The results give a panorama of what had been done in studies about sexuality and ageing in Latin America. Among those highlights, the absence of studies concentrates only on sexuality and ageing. Also, more quantitative studies are not comparable between countries, cross-sectional and descriptive. Finally, it is identified some gaps and challenges that need to be addressed by researchers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family honour, protecting and upholding the family name, is central to familism. Yet, it has been somewhat neglected by scholarship on Latin American and Latino families. Familism involves prioritising the family over the individual. Likewise, the family of origin holds particular significance, offering material, social and emotional support, and shaping one's identity, honour and sense of belonging. Heteronormativity and patriarchy portray queer individuals as the causes of family shame. This study examined how family honour, as a component of familism, operates within kin dynamics, specifically focusing on same-sex cohabitation, as this living arrangement serves as a tangible expression of a non-normative sexual orientation. A life course perspective was used to study 24 cases of cohabiting lesbian, gay and bi/pansexual individuals in Chile. The results show the enduring significance of families in providing support, sociability, identity, and a sense of belonging. Nevertheless, it reveals notable instances of family rejection towards queer kin. In Chile, both families of origin and queer individuals employ subtle strategies to conceal their queerness, guided by notions of 'respect' associated with family honour and decency. These strategies involve unspoken agreements to maintain family bonds through discreet displays of queer behaviour without explicit acknowledgement of sexual identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Tests of physical function are often thought to measure functioning that is (1) musculoskeletal, and (2) newly declining in adult life. In contrast, this study aimed to: (1) add to evidence that physical-function tests also measure brain function, and (2) test the novel hypothesis that adult physical function is associated with brain function beginning in early childhood. We investigated early childhood brain function and midlife physical function in the Dunedin Study, a 5-decade longitudinal birth cohort (n  = 1,037). Methods Brain function was measured at age 3 using 5 measures which formed a reliable composite (neurological examination, cognitive and motor tests, and temperament ratings). Physical function was measured at age 45 using 5 measures which formed a reliable composite (gait speed, step-in-place, chair stands, balance, and grip strength). Results Children with worse age-3 brain function had worse midlife physical function as measured by the age-45 composite, even after controlling for childhood socioeconomic status (β: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.30; p  < .001). Worse age-3 brain function significantly predicted slower gait speed, fewer steps-in-place and chair-stands, worse balance, and weaker grip strength. Discussion Children with poorer brain function were more likely to have poorer physical-function scores as adults. In addition to indicating recent musculoskeletal decline, physical-function tests may also provide indications of lifelong, integrated brain–body health. By reconceptualizing the meaning of physical-function scores, clinicians can orient the use of physical-function tests in a more holistic approach to health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) are associated with a wide range of measures of poor mental health. While there is a body of evidence to suggest that IPV leads to poor mental health, there is some evidence to suggest the association between IPV and mental illness may be bi-directional. We take data from a long running cohort study to test the hypothesis that poor mental health experienced during the adolescent and young adult periods of the life course predict adult occurring IPV. At 14 years respondents were administered the Youth Self Report (YSR), and at 21 years they completed the Young Adult Self Report (YASR) as well as the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. At 30 years, respondents completed the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), with five measures of IPV; Severe Combined Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Harassment and Coercive Control. After adjustment for possible confounding, measures of delinquency and substance use disorder at 21 years predicted all forms of IPV. For example, in the fully adjusted data, substance use disorders to 21 years predict Severe Combined Abuse (2.30:1.15, 4.61), Physical Abuse (1.67:1.11, 2.52), and Coercive Control (1.74:1.14, 2.65) at 30 years. The findings raise the possible benefits of early intervention programs to reduce adult occurring IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the risk factors for infertility are well-established, research on factors associated with voluntary childlessness is limited and mainly focused on adulthood factors. Thus, we examined the associations between factors in childhood and young adulthood and different types of childlessness. The analysis included 4653 women from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health from 1996 to 2021. Childlessness was categorised as: voluntary, due to infertility issues, or due to other reasons. The associations between factors in childhood and young adulthood and childlessness were assessed using multinomial logistic regression models. In their 40s, 4.8 % of women were voluntarily childless, 6.7 % were childless due to infertility issues, and 7.8 % were childless due to other reasons. Regardless of types of childlessness, being childless was associated with poorer self-rated health during childhood and having been unpartnered and obese in young adulthood. Ex-smokers in young adulthood had lower odds of childlessness. Childhood physical abuse was associated with childlessness due to infertility issues and other reasons. Voluntary childlessness and childlessness due to infertility issues were associated with having identified as non-exclusively heterosexual in early adulthood. Lower social support in early adulthood was associated with voluntary childlessness and childlessness due to other reasons. The direction of the associations could not be determined and using self-reported data may introduce recall bias. Factors in childhood and young adulthood were associated with different types of childlessness, highlighting the importance of adopting a life course perspective when studying childlessness. • Longitudinal data were used to examine factors associated with childlessness. • Several factors in childhood and young adulthood were associated with different types of childlessness. • Our results highlighted the importance of adopting a life course perspective when studying childlessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summaries: Age, Sex, and Constitutional Factors Whittle et al. identify how sex impacts mental health service use for women with intellectual disability.Sheerin et al. highlight how age‐specific needs are unmet due to service gaps.Burke et al. identify how age‐related healthcare risks for bone health are different for people with intellectual disability. Living and Working Conditions van den Bemd et al. reported the recording of management of long‐term conditions for patients with intellectual disabilities in long‐term care appears suboptimal.Skoss et al. report on the infrastructure of group home settings in Australia and how after COVID‐19 people living in these settings receive fewer healthcare services. Individual Lifestyle Factors Lunsky et al. explored the use of a 'check‐in tool' to support people with intellectual disability proactively. Community and Social Networks Donaldson et al. and Karas et al. highlight systemic issues with eyecare and examine the impact of peer‐to‐peer support and community advocacy on improving access to eye care.Schormans et al. examine the lack of social and community support for homeless youth with intellectual disability.Sykes et al. highlight reasonable adjustments and influence of community and familial attitudes in influencing breast and cervical cancer screening access.Earle et al. detail how broader societal and cultural norms affect menstrual health support.Heslop and Lauer found limited evidence about preventing specific avoidable causes of death in people with intellectual disability and outline the need for 'whole population' policy changes.Iffland et al. found that lung infections, choking, flu and heart problems were much more likely to be a contributing cause of deaths for people with intellectual disability.Hatton et al. explore the impact of COVID‐19 on access to health services and highlight severe disruptions during the pandemic which persisted and worsened postpandemic.Beeken et al. detail how stakeholder engagement in research and policymaking can improve health and address health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Across the life course, women and girls with learning disabilities and their carers report difficulties in accessing information and support with menstruation, yet their experiences are often overlooked in initiatives to improve menstrual health and wellbeing. Our aim was to collaborate with women with learning disabilities to co‐produce future research priorities in a UK context. Methods: We undertook a two‐part scoping exercise to explore what is known about this topic from a life course perspective, beginning pre‐menarche and extending to post‐menopause support. This combined a rapid scoping review of the literature since 1980 with a stakeholder consultation where people with learning disabilities, family carers, advocacy groups and staff working across education, health and social care were invited to share their experiences of menstruation support. Findings: UK and international literature provided insight across five narrative themes. Seventy stakeholders took part in our consultation, enabling the identification of five key themes. Findings across both highlight examples of supportive practice and valued resources alongside enduring health inequalities and barriers to menstruation support faced by women and girls with learning disabilities across the life course. Conclusion: Our scoping exercise identified multiple gaps in research and practice, ongoing reproductive health inequalities and a need for improved access to peer support, resources and training that take a life course approach. The scoping exercise indicates the need for further empirical research on menstruation and learning disability, with a particular focus on collating people's lived experiences. Accessible summary: We wanted to find out what support and information is available to girls and women with learning disabilities about periods (also called 'menstruation') over a lifetime.This was to help us work out what new research might be needed in the future.Our team included women with and without learning disabilities. We are based in the United Kingdom.We read lots of articles, from the United Kingdom and around the world.We spoke to lots of people who care about this issue and know about it. This included women with learning disabilities, family carers, advocacy groups and staff working in education, health and social care settings.There is not enough guidance about periods for girls and women with learning disabilities.A lot more research is needed about how to support women with learning disabilities with their periods, over their whole life.This must also include women with profound and multiple learning disabilities and women from minority ethnic communities.Our work showed that we need to hear much more from women with learning disabilities themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article draws on a qualitative data analysis of the experiences of a small group of so-called 'hard-to-reach' disabled young men in Alternative Provisions (APs). Supporting young people has largely focused on the use of professional interventions. We contrast the young men's experiences of professional service interventions with the complementary functions of social and psychological capital embedded in their own friendship networks. The young men rarely used the professional support offered, often finding professional practices and institutional systems unhelpful. This contrasted with the support gained in their own friendship networks which offered opportunities for enhancing well-being and agency. There are implications here for how young people facing risks associated with school exclusion and marginalisation can best be supported. We suggest that young people themselves are important agents in providing mutuality and solidarity, which can enhance various and varied life-course transitions. Points of interest: Disabled, working-class male students are increasingly placed into Alternative Provisions intended for students who would otherwise not receive suitable education. Supporting young people has often focused on professional interventions and the value of young people's friendship networks has received little research attention. This article is based on research with young disabled men on the margins of Alternative Provisions, located within a medium sized local authority. The research found that these young people are important agents in providing mutuality and solidarity. This can enhance life-course transitions. Research on young disabled men rarely mentions emotion and intimacy. Our data identified instances of friendship offering young people the support necessary to endure problems related to exclusion and to collectively develop effective coping strategies. The article emphasises that the value of friendship networks should be acknowledged as part of work undertaken by professionals and agencies with marginalised young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores a conceptual model for the relationship between education and health, focusing on the effect of children's health on their educational outcomes and the impact of educational outcomes on children's life course health. Topics discussed include the significance of using educational data to enhance public health understanding, and improvement in health through social and psychological factors.