The association between life course socioeconomic position and life satisfaction in different welfare states: European comparative study of individuals in early old age.
BACKGROUND
whether socioeconomic position over the life course influences the wellbeing of older people similarly in different societies is not known.


OBJECTIVE
to investigate the magnitude of socioeconomic inequalities in life satisfaction among individuals in early old age and the influence of the welfare state regime on the associations.


METHODS
comparative study using data from Wave 2 and SHARELIFE, the retrospective Wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), collected during 2006-07 and 2008-09, respectively.


METHODS
thirteen European countries representing four welfare regimes (Southern, Scandinavian, Post-communist and Bismarckian).


METHODS
a total of 17,697 individuals aged 50-75 years.


METHODS
slope indices of inequality (SIIs) were calculated for the association between life course socioeconomic position (measured by the number of books in childhood, education level and current wealth) and life satisfaction. Single level linear regression models stratified by welfare regime and multilevel regression models, containing interaction terms between socioeconomic position and welfare regime type, were calculated.


RESULTS
socioeconomic inequalities in life satisfaction were present in all welfare regimes. Educational inequalities in life satisfaction were narrowest in Scandinavian and Bismarckian regimes among both genders. Post-communist and Southern countries experienced both lower life satisfaction and larger socioeconomic inequalities in life satisfaction, using most measures of socioeconomic position. Current wealth was associated with large inequalities in life satisfaction across all regimes.


CONCLUSIONS
Scandinavian and Bismarckian countries exhibited narrower socioeconomic inequalities in life satisfaction. This suggests that more generous welfare states help to produce a more equitable distribution of wellbeing among older people.
Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow G12 8RZ, UK.
Claire L
CL
Niedzwiedz
Srinivasa Vittal
SV
Katikireddi
Jill P
JP
Pell
Richard
R
Mitchell
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D026712:Value of Life
ageing; older people; quality of life; satisfaction; socioeconomic factors; welfare