title: Disparate effects of socioeconomic status on physical function and emotional well-being in older adults.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that among community living older adults with relatively low and high socioeconomic status (SES), low SES is associated with both poorer emotional well-being and physical function. Ambulatory, community living older men and women (70-89 years of age) were recruited from outpatient geriatric assessment clinics in relatively high socioeconomic areas of greater Boston (High SES, N=47), and from an urban senior center in the inner city (Low SES, N=66). We assessed health status, mental health, upper and lower extremity strength and physical function. We found that health status was not significantly different in the two groups. Quadriceps strength (Low SES: 199+/-57 N; High SES: 190+/-56 N; p=0.531) and Up and Go times (Low SES: 14.3+/-3.1 sec; High SES: 16.7+/-9.5 sec; p=0.068) were not significantly different in the two groups, while grip strength was slightly higher in the Low SES group (Low SES: 22.8+/-6.45 kg; High SES: 20.07+/-7.55 kg; p=0.049). In contrast, subjects with Low SES tended to have an increased tendency towards depression. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale were 3.8+/-3.0 in Low SES, and 1.8+/-2.8 in High SES (p<0.001). We conclude that while health status and physical function were not worse in subjects with low SES, emotional well-being was markedly less compared to seniors with high SES. SES may have disparate effects on physical function and mental health, perhaps due to different compensatory mechanisms.
authors: Division on Aging, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Rios
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Abdulah
authors: J Y
authors: JY
authors: Wei
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Hausdorff
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012923:Social Class