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CHILD SOCIO-ECONOMIC POSITION AND LEAD POISONING RELATED TO ADULT PESSIMISM

Wednesday, 30th of November 2011 Print

‘Low childhood and adult SES were related to higher tibia lead levels, and both were also independently associated with higher pessimism.’ 

 
  • CHILDHOOD SOCIOECONOMIC POSITION AND LEAD EXPOSURE RELATED TO ADULT PESSIMISM

Abstract below; full text available to subscribers of American Journal of EpidemiologExpand+yAmerican Journal of Epidemiologyaje.oxfordjournals.org

Am. J. Epidemiol. (2011)

Childhood and Adult Socioeconomic Position, Cumulative Lead Levels, and Pessimism in Later Life

The VA Normative Aging Study

  1. 1.   Junenette L. Peters*, Laura D. Kubzansky, Ai Ikeda, Avron Spiro III, Robert O. Wright,

  Marc G. Weisskopf, Daniel Kim, David Sparrow, Linda H. Nie, Howard Hu and Joel Schwartz

  1. *Correspondence to Dr. Junenette L. Peters, Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Room 440W, Boston, MA 02118 (e-mail: petersj@bu.edu).

Abstract

Pessimism, a general tendency toward negative expectancies, is a risk factor for depression and also heart disease, stroke, and reduced cancer survival. There is evidence that individuals with higher lead exposure have poorer health. However, low socioeconomic status (SES) is linked with higher lead levels and greater pessimism, and it is unclear whether lead influences psychological functioning independently of other social factors. The authors considered interrelations among childhood and adult SES, lead levels, and psychological functioning in data collected on 412 Boston area men between 1991 and 2002 in a subgroup of the VA Normative Aging Study. Pessimism was measured by using the Life Orientation Test. Cumulative (tibia) lead was measured by x-ray fluorescence. Structural equation modeling was used to quantify the relations as mediated by childhood and adult SES, controlling for age, health behaviors, and health status. An interquartile range increase in lead quartile was associated with a 0.37 increase in pessimism score (P < 0.05). Low childhood and adult SES were related to higher tibia lead levels, and both were also independently associated with higher pessimism. Lead maintained an independent association with pessimism even after childhood and adult SES were considered. Results demonstrate an interrelated role of lead burden and SES over the life course in relation to psychological functioning in older age.

 

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