Grip strength, walking speed, chair rising and standing balance time are objective measures of physical capability that characterise current health and predict survival in older populations. Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood may influence the peak level of physical capability achieved in early adulthood, thereby affecting levels in later adulthood. We have undertaken a systematic review with meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that adverse childhood SEP is associated with lower levels of objectively measured physical capability in adulthood. Relevant studies published by May 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE and MEDLINE. Unpublished results were obtained from study investigators. Results were provided by all study investigators in a standard format and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. 19 studies were included in the review. Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from N = 17,215 for chair rise time to N = 1,061,855 for grip strength. Although heterogeneity was detected, there was consistent evidence in age adjusted models that lower childhood SEP was associated with modest reductions in physical capability levels in adulthood: comparing the lowest with the highest childhood SEP there was a reduction in grip strength of 0.13 standard deviations (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21), a reduction in mean walking speed of 0.07 m/s (0.05, 0.10), an increase in mean chair rise time of 6% (4%, 8%) and an odds ratio of an inability to balance for 5s of 1.26 (1.02, 1.55). Adjustment for the potential mediating factors, adult SEP and body size attenuated associations greatly. However, despite this attenuation, for walking speed and chair rise time, there was still evidence of moderate associations. Policies targeting socioeconomic inequalities in childhood may have additional benefits in promoting the maintenance of independence in later life.

Objectives. This study examined the differential impact of social roles and socioeconomic resources on the mental health of Korean men and women aged 65 years or older. Methods. The study sample was a weighted population of 930 people (905 survey samples) aged 65 years or older who had responded to the health behavior survey of the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results. We observed striking gender differences in the correlates of poor mental health. Living alone was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in men but not in women. Living in a multigenerational family without a spouse and having a lower household income were significantly associated with poor mental health in both men and women. Discussion. We discuss the intriguing evidence of gender differences in the correlates of mental health within the context of traditional Asian society and suggest further research on social components of gender differences in mental health across diverse cultures.

We investigated the association between employment status and depressive symptoms among Korean individuals according to age and gender. Data were obtained from a subsample of 3,907 men and 4,914 women aged 45 years and older without any severe disabilities who participated in the 2006 cross-sectional baseline survey of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). We compared depressive symptoms as determined by the Center for Epidemiological Studies–Depression 10-item scale, adjusting for socioeconomic status, physical and cognitive function, and chronic disease. Using multiple regression analysis, we determined both age- and gender-specific differences associated with depressive symptoms and employment status. Employment was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among middle-aged men but not among older men. Unemployment was associated with more depressive symptoms among middle-aged women but not among older women. Work role did not provide any benefit for depressive symptoms among older men and women. We discuss the increased depressive symptoms among older employed men and the differential association of employment status with age and gender in the context of Korean social structure.