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Are there educational disparities in health and functioning among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries

Author

Listed:
  • Linda Enroth

    (Tampere University)

  • Marijke Veenstra

    (OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University)

  • Marja Aartsen

    (OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University)

  • Agnete Aslaug Kjær

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Charlotte Juul Nilsson

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Stefan Fors

    (Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University)

Abstract

With the ageing of the population and recent pressures on important welfare state arrangements, updated knowledge on the linkage between socioeconomic status and health in old age is pertinent for shedding light on emerging patterns of health inequalities in the Nordic countries. This study examined self-rated health (SRH), mobility and activities of daily living (ADL) according to level of education in the three oldest old age groups 75–84, 85–94, and 95+, in four Nordic countries. Altogether, 6132 individuals from Danish Longitudinal Study of Ageing, Norwegian Life Course, Ageing and Generation study, Swedish Panel Study of Living Conditions of the Oldest Old, the 5-Country Oldest Old (Sweden) and Vitality 90 + Study were analysed. First, associations of education level with SRH, mobility, and ADL were estimated for each individual study by means of age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression. Second, results from individual studies were synthesized in a meta-analysis. Older adults with higher education level were more likely to report good SRH, and they were more often independent in mobility and ADL than those with basic education when all age groups were combined. In mobility and ADL, differences between education groups remained stable across the age groups but for SRH, differences seemed to be weaker in older ages. With only a few exceptions, in all age groups, individuals with higher education had more favourable health and functioning than those with basic education. This study shows remarkable persistence of health and functioning inequalities in the Nordic countries throughout later life.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda Enroth & Marijke Veenstra & Marja Aartsen & Agnete Aslaug Kjær & Charlotte Juul Nilsson & Stefan Fors, 2019. "Are there educational disparities in health and functioning among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 415-424, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:16:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10433-019-00517-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-019-00517-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rasmus Hoffmann, 2011. "Illness, Not Age, Is the Leveler of Social Mortality Differences in Old Age," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 66(3), pages 374-379.
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    5. Huisman, Martijn & Kunst, Anton E. & Mackenbach, Johan P., 2003. "Socioeconomic inequalities in morbidity among the elderly; a European overview," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 861-873, September.
    6. Stefan Fors & Mats Thorslund, 2015. "Enduring inequality: educational disparities in health among the oldest old in Sweden 1992–2011," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(1), pages 91-98, January.
    7. Linda Enroth & Jani Raitanen & Antti Hervonen & Marja Jylhä, 2013. "Do Socioeconomic Health Differences Persist in Nonagenarians?," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 68(5), pages 837-847.
    8. Stefan Fors & Mats Thorslund, 2015. "Erratum to: Enduring inequality: educational disparities in health among the oldest old in Sweden 1992–2011," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 60(1), pages 99-99, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johan Fritzell & Neda Agahi & Marja Jylhä & Tine Rostgaard, 2022. "Social inequalities in ageing in the Nordic countries," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 155-159, June.
    2. Matthias Kliegel & Susanne Iwarsson & Morten Wahrendorf & Nadia Minicuci & Marja J. Aartsen, 2020. "The European Journal of Ageing at the beginning of the Decade of Healthy Ageing," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 1-2, March.
    3. Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen & Jutta Pulkki & Leena Tervonen-Gonçalves & Pär Schön & Bo Burström & Ilmo Keskimäki, 2022. "Health system reforms and the needs of the ageing population—an analysis of recent policy paths and reform trends in Finland and Sweden," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 221-232, June.
    4. Linda Enroth & Domantas Jasilionis & Laszlo Németh & Bjørn Heine Strand & Insani Tanjung & Louise Sundberg & Stefan Fors & Marja Jylhä & Henrik Brønnum-Hansen, 2022. "Changes in socioeconomic differentials in old age life expectancy in four Nordic countries: the impact of educational expansion and education-specific mortality," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 161-173, June.

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