Childhood socioeconomic status and adult health

TLDR

Socioeconomic status (SES) exposures during childhood are powerful predictors of adult cardiovascular morbidity, cardiovascular mortality, all‑cause mortality, and mortality from a range of specific causes. The study aims to clarify when, how long, and through which behavioral, psychological, or physiological pathways childhood SES affects adult health, and which outcomes are most vulnerable. We review evidence linking childhood and adolescent SES to adult health, examining environmental, behavioral, and physiological pathways, the critical ages for exposure, and the impact of exposure duration. Early childhood SES predicts many health outcomes, whereas later childhood and adolescent SES pose risks for other outcomes.

Abstract

Socioeconomic status (SES) exposures during childhood are powerful predictors of adult cardiovascular morbidity, cardiovascular mortality, all‐cause mortality, and mortality due to a range of specific causes. However, we still know little about when childhood SES exposures matter most, how long they need to last, what behavioral, psychological, or physiological pathways link the childhood SES experience to adult health, and which specific adult health outcomes are vulnerable to childhood SES exposures. Here, we discuss the evidence supporting the link between childhood and adolescent SES and adult health, and explore different environmental, behavioral, and physiological pathways that might explain how early SES would influence adult health. We also address the ages when SES exposures matter most for setting adult health trajectories as well as the role of exposure duration in SES influences on later health. While early childhood exposures seem to be potent predictors of a range of health outcomes, we emphasize that later childhood and adolescent exposures are risks for other health outcomes.