Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.

<h4>Objective</h4>The possible contributions of psychosocial functioning and intelligence differences to socioeconomic status (SES)-related inequalities in premature death were investigated. None of the previous studies focusing on inequalities in mortality has included measures of both...

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Main Authors: Daniel Falkstedt, Kimmo Sorjonen, Tomas Hemmingsson, Ian J Deary, Bo Melin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082031&type=printable
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author Daniel Falkstedt
Kimmo Sorjonen
Tomas Hemmingsson
Ian J Deary
Bo Melin
author_facet Daniel Falkstedt
Kimmo Sorjonen
Tomas Hemmingsson
Ian J Deary
Bo Melin
author_sort Daniel Falkstedt
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Objective</h4>The possible contributions of psychosocial functioning and intelligence differences to socioeconomic status (SES)-related inequalities in premature death were investigated. None of the previous studies focusing on inequalities in mortality has included measures of both psychosocial functioning and intelligence.<h4>Methods</h4>The study was based on a cohort of 49 321 men born 1949-1951 from the general community in Sweden. Data on psychosocial functioning and intelligence from military conscription at ∼18 years of age were linked with register data on education, occupational class, and income at 35-39 years of age. Psychosocial functioning was rated by psychologists as a summary measure of differences in level of activity, power of initiative, independence, and emotional stability. Intelligence was measured through a multidimensional test. Causes of death between 40 and 57 years of age were followed in registers.<h4>Results</h4>The estimated inequalities in all-cause mortality by education and occupational class were attenuated with 32% (95% confidence interval: 20-45%) and 41% (29-52%) after adjustments for individual psychological differences; both psychosocial functioning and intelligence contributed to account for the inequalities. The inequalities in cardiovascular and injury mortality were attenuated by as much as 51% (24-76%) and 52% (35-68%) after the same adjustments, and the inequalities in alcohol-related mortality were attenuated by up to 33% (8-59%). Less of the inequalities were accounted for when those were measured by level of income, with which intelligence had a weaker correlation. The small SES-related inequalities in cancer mortality were not attenuated by adjustment for intelligence.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Differences in psychosocial functioning and intelligence might both contribute to the explanation of observed SES-related inequalities in premature death, but the magnitude of their contributions likely varies with measure of socioeconomic status and cause of death. Both psychosocial functioning and intelligence should be considered in future studies.
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spelling doaj-art-05a8a37433d841a5b5a1475c0e8e6e132025-08-20T03:10:50ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01812e8203110.1371/journal.pone.0082031Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.Daniel FalkstedtKimmo SorjonenTomas HemmingssonIan J DearyBo Melin<h4>Objective</h4>The possible contributions of psychosocial functioning and intelligence differences to socioeconomic status (SES)-related inequalities in premature death were investigated. None of the previous studies focusing on inequalities in mortality has included measures of both psychosocial functioning and intelligence.<h4>Methods</h4>The study was based on a cohort of 49 321 men born 1949-1951 from the general community in Sweden. Data on psychosocial functioning and intelligence from military conscription at ∼18 years of age were linked with register data on education, occupational class, and income at 35-39 years of age. Psychosocial functioning was rated by psychologists as a summary measure of differences in level of activity, power of initiative, independence, and emotional stability. Intelligence was measured through a multidimensional test. Causes of death between 40 and 57 years of age were followed in registers.<h4>Results</h4>The estimated inequalities in all-cause mortality by education and occupational class were attenuated with 32% (95% confidence interval: 20-45%) and 41% (29-52%) after adjustments for individual psychological differences; both psychosocial functioning and intelligence contributed to account for the inequalities. The inequalities in cardiovascular and injury mortality were attenuated by as much as 51% (24-76%) and 52% (35-68%) after the same adjustments, and the inequalities in alcohol-related mortality were attenuated by up to 33% (8-59%). Less of the inequalities were accounted for when those were measured by level of income, with which intelligence had a weaker correlation. The small SES-related inequalities in cancer mortality were not attenuated by adjustment for intelligence.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Differences in psychosocial functioning and intelligence might both contribute to the explanation of observed SES-related inequalities in premature death, but the magnitude of their contributions likely varies with measure of socioeconomic status and cause of death. Both psychosocial functioning and intelligence should be considered in future studies.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082031&type=printable
spellingShingle Daniel Falkstedt
Kimmo Sorjonen
Tomas Hemmingsson
Ian J Deary
Bo Melin
Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.
PLoS ONE
title Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.
title_full Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.
title_fullStr Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.
title_full_unstemmed Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.
title_short Psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death. A population-based male cohort study.
title_sort psychosocial functioning and intelligence both partly explain socioeconomic inequalities in premature death a population based male cohort study
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082031&type=printable
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