Financial Strain over the Life Course and Health among Older Adults

TLDR

Financial strain across the life course underlies health inequalities in later life. The study analyzes data from 1,167 adults aged 65 + in the Aging, Stress and Health Study. Long‑term financial hardship predicts poorer late‑life health even after adjusting for current finances; its persistence matters more than episodic occurrence or timing, aligning with allostatic load theory.

Abstract

This paper focuses on financial strain across the life course as a condition underlying health inequalities observed in later life. The analysis is based on data from 1167 adults 65 years and older collected as part of the 'Aging, Stress and Health Study". Relying on retrospective data about hardship experienced over the life course, we find that long-term financial hardship is reflected in a range of health outcomes at late life, even after controlling for the effects of current financial circumstances. Moreover, the sheer persistence of hardship matters more than its episodic occurrence or timing, so that the health effects of early hardship may be obviated if followed by no further hardship. This pattern offindings is consistent with the notion of allostatic load, the cumulative damage done to health and well-being under the burden of an unrelenting stressor in a critically important life domain.