The link between socioeconomic status (SES) and health and mortality has been well-established, but evidence continues to
suggest that this relationship begins in early life with parental SES. There is evidence that allostatic load (AL) mediates the
relationship between SES and mortality, and SES is inversely associated with AL across the life course (Seeman et al. 2004; Seeman et al.
2008; Hawkley et al. 2011; Evans & Kim, 2012). Existing longitudinal studies using biologically objective health outcomes are limited,
and this study incorporates measures of both perceived stress and the body's physiological response to stress, observed over time, in
older adults. Using the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), this dissertation aims to fill gaps in the literature by
exploring the associations between socioeconomic status across the life course, allostatic load, and mortality. I examine 1) how SES in
childhood affects SES, perceived stress, and allostatic load in older adults; 2) how childhood SES affects change in allostatic load over
5 years; and 3) if childhood SES indirectly impacts mortality risk through SES and stress in late adulthood. Results add to existing
findings by showing significant relationships between SES and mortality in late adulthood, with allostatic load and perceived stress
partially explaining this relationship. Results also contribute to the field showing an indirect relationship between childhood SES and
allostatic load in late life. Individuals who grew up in low SES households show significantly higher allostatic load scores in late
adulthood. This association is mediated mostly by educational attainment, but wealth also plays a role. This study also provides two
examples for studying allostatic load across two time points, and results show that childhood SES affects allostatic load change in a
similar manner to a singular measure. The findings highlight the importance of the association between childhood SES and adult educational
attainment, as the effects carry over into many adult outcomes. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Sociology in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of
Philosophy. / Spring Semester 2016. / March 17, 2016. / Aging, Allostatic Load, Health, Life Course / Includes bibliographical references. / Isaac Eberstein, Professor Directing Dissertation; Dan McGee, University Representative; John
Taylor, Committee Member; Michael McFarland, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_360361 |
| Contributors | Graves, Katelyn (authoraut), Eberstein, Isaac W. (professor directing dissertation), McGee, Daniel (university representative), Taylor, John (committee member), McFarland, Michael J. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Social Sciences and Public Policy (degree granting college), Department of Sociology (degree granting department) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource (136 pages), computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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