Childhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Health in the Second Half of Life: The Role of Gender and Welfare States in the Life Course of Europeans

Resources and reserves influence the development of vulnerability in old age. When individuals lack resources throughout their life trajectories, or when they lack reserves to cope with unforeseen events, they become at risk of poor health in old age. The LIFETRAIL project, funded by the NCCR LIVES, examined the life course precursors—especially during childhoohevald—of health in old age. This chapter reviews the findings from the LIFETRAIL project with a reserve’s perspective. First, it describes the role of educational achievements as a potential life course mediator that can reduce the impact of childhood misfortune on health in older age. Second, it considers the role of welfare states as a proxy of structural protection against the risk of socioeconomic adversities during the life course and examine their protecting role on health in old age. Third, it provides empirical analyses describing the potential interactions between education and welfare state on health in old age.