A preliminary investigation into factors influencing limiting long-standing illness among UK university graduates: a retrospective cohort study.
Two competing hypotheses underpinned an investigation into limiting long-standing illness (LLI) among UK graduates. Hypothesis 1 proposed childhood social class (CSC) influences LLI independently of educational attainment and adult income. Hypothesis 2 proposed typical middle-class graduates would have lower LLI prevalence than typical and atypical working-class and atypical middle-class graduates. Working/middleclass refers to childhood circumstances. Atypical/typical refers to full-time employment duration before attending university. Graduates (1985; N = 5093 and 1990; N = 8147) were followed up in 1996. Logistic regression was used to examine LLI in 1996 by CSC only and CSC, atypical graduate status and their interaction, adjusting for age and adult income. Hypothesis 1 was not confirmed. Hypothesis 2 was partially confirmed. Typical middle-class graduates had a lower LLI prevalence than typical working-class and atypical middle-class graduates. These results support the idea that opportunities for good human functioning are culturally determined and affect health.
Markham
Wolfgang A
WA
School of Health and Social Studies, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK. wolfgang.markham@warwick.ac.uk
Aveyard
Paul
P
Bullock
Alison
A
Thomas
Hywel
H
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities