scholarly journals How is the distribution of psychological distress changing over time? Who is driving these changes? Analysis of the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Gondek ◽  
Praveetha Patalay ◽  
David G Blanchflower ◽  
Rebecca Lacey
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Underlying Distribution ◽  
Measurement Occasion ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Demographic Subgroups ◽  
Distributional Shifts ◽  
Over Time

Aims Despite the large variance in distress, most research investigating lifecourse development and cross-cohort trends have focused on its mean levels at the population level. The main objective of this study is to investigate distributional shifts underlying observed age and cohort differences in mean levels of psychological distress in the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts. Further, we examine whether observed distributional shifts are driven by specific socio-demographic subgroups, according to gender, parental social class at birth, and highest achieved qualification by age 30/33. Finally, we compare cohort and age differences in the distribution of individual symptoms of psychological distress. Methods This study used data from the 1958 National Child Development Study and 1970 British birth cohort. Our analytical sample (n=24,707) included those who had at least one measure of distress, were still alive and were not permanent emigrants from Britain by age 50 in the 1958 birth cohort (n=13,250) and by age 46-48 in the 1970 birth cohort (n=11,457). Psychological distress was measured by the Malaise Inventory at ages 23, 33, 42 and 50 in the 1958 cohort and 26, 34, 42 and 46-48 in the 1970 cohort. Results The shifts in the distribution across age appear to be mainly due to changing proportion of those with moderate symptoms, except for midlife (age 42-50) when we observed polarisation in distress, with increased proportions of people with no or multiple symptoms. The elevated levels of distress in the 1970 cohort, compared with the 1958 cohort, appeared to be due to an increase in the proportion of individuals with both moderate and high symptoms. For instance, at age 33/34 34.2% experienced no symptoms in 1970 compared with 54.0% in the 1958 cohort, whereas 42.3% endorsed at least two symptoms in the 1970 cohort vs 24.7% in 1958. These observed shifts were driven to some extent by a larger proportion of men and individuals with high qualification in the moderate and high distress groups in the more recent cohort. Fatigue, nervousness, and tension were particularly prevalent in this life phase and all examined symptoms were more prevalent in the younger cohort. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the importance of studying not only mean levels of distress over time, but also the underlying shifts in its distribution. Due to the large dispersion of distress scores at any given measurement occasion, understanding the underlying distribution provides a more complete picture of population trends.

scholarly journals How is the distribution of psychological distress changing over time? Who is driving these changes? Analysis of the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawid Gondek ◽  
Rebecca E. Lacey ◽  
Dawid G. Blanchflower ◽  
Praveetha Patalay
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Underlying Distribution ◽  
Measurement Occasion ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Large Dispersion ◽  
Distributional Shifts ◽  
Multiple Symptoms ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Entire Distribution

Abstract Aims The main objective of this study was to investigate distributional shifts underlying observed age and cohort differences in mean levels of psychological distress in the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts. Methods This study used data from the 1958 and 1970 British birth cohorts (n = 24,707). Psychological distress was measured by the Malaise Inventory at ages 23, 33, 42 and 50 in the 1958 cohort and 26, 34, 42 and 46–48 in the 1970 cohort. Results The shifts in the distribution across age appear to be mainly due to changing proportion of those with moderate symptoms, except for midlife (age 42–50) when we observed polarisation in distress— an increase in proportions of people with no symptoms and multiple symptoms. The elevated levels of distress in the 1970 cohort, compared with the 1958 cohort, appeared to be due to an increase in the proportion of individuals with both moderate and high symptoms. For instance, at age 33/34 42.3% endorsed at least two symptoms in the 1970 cohort vs 24.7% in 1958, resulting in a shift in the entire distribution of distress towards the more severe end of the spectrum. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the importance of studying not only mean levels of distress over time, but also the underlying shifts in its distribution. Due to the large dispersion of distress scores at any given measurement occasion, understanding the underlying distribution provides a more complete picture of population trends.

scholarly journals Recomposing persons: Scavenging and storytelling in a birth cohort archive

2021 ◽  
pp. 095269512199539
Author(s):  
Penny Tinkler ◽  
Resto Cruz ◽  
Laura Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Relational Embeddedness ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Over Time

Birth cohort studies can be used not only to generate population-level quantitative data, but also to recompose persons. The crux is how we understand data and persons. Recomposition entails scavenging for various (including unrecognised) data. It foregrounds the perspective and subjectivity of survey participants, but without forgetting the partiality and incompleteness of the accounts that it may generate. Although interested in the singularity of individuals, it attends to the historical and relational embeddedness of personhood. It examines the multiple and complex temporalities that suffuse people’s lives, hence departing from linear notions of the life course. It implies involvement, as well as reflexivity, on the part of researchers. It embraces the heterogeneity and transformations over time of scientific archives and the interpretive possibilities, as well as incompleteness, of birth cohort studies data. Interested in the unfolding of lives over time, it also shines light on meaningful biographical moments.

scholarly journals Improved Cognitive Function in the Tromsø Study in Norway From 2001 to 2016

2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001115
Author(s):  
Bente Johnsen ◽  
Bjørn Heine Strand ◽  
Ieva Martinaityte ◽  
Ellisiv B. Mathiesen ◽  
Henrik Schirmer
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Cohort Effect ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Level Increase ◽  
Drinking Frequency ◽  
Birth Cohort Effect

AbstractObjective:Physical capacity and cardiovascular risk profiles seem to be improving in the population. Cognition have been improving due to a birth cohort effect, but evidence is conflicting on whether this improvement remains in the latest decades, and what is causing the changes in our population over 60 years old. We aimed to investigate birth cohort differences in cognition.Method:The study comprised 9514 participants from the Tromsø study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study. Participants were in the ages 60–87 years, born between 1914 and 1956. They did four cognitive tests in three waves during 2001-2016. Linear regression was applied, and adjusted for age, education, blood pressure, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, heart attack, depression, diabetes, physical activity, alcohol use, BMI and height.Results:Cognitive test scores were better in later-born birth cohorts for all age groups, and in both sexes, compared with earlier born cohorts. Increased education, physical activity, alcohol intake, decreasing smoking prevalence and increasing height was associated with one third of this improvement across birth cohorts in women and one half of the improvement in men.Conclusion:Cognitive results were better in more recent born birth cohorts compared with earlier born, assessed at the same age. The improvement was present in all cognitive domains, suggesting an overall improvement in cognitive performance. The 80-year-olds assessed in 2015-16 performed like 60-year-olds assessed in 2001. The improved scores were associated with increased education level, increase in modest drinking frequency, increased physical activity and for men, smoking cessation and increased height.

Secular trends in the prevalence of dementia and depression in Swedish septuagenarians 1976–2006

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 2627-2634 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Wiberg ◽  
M. Waern ◽  
E. Billstedt ◽  
S. Östling ◽  
I. Skoog
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Minor Depression ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Prevalence Of Dementia

BackgroundIt is not clear whether the prevalence of dementia and depression among the elderly has changed during the past 30 years.MethodPopulation-based samples from Gothenburg, Sweden were examined with identical psychiatric and neuropsychiatric examinations at age 70 years in 1976–1977 (n = 404, response rate 78.8%) and 2000–2001 (n = 579, response rate 66.4%), and at age 75 in 1976–1977 (n = 303, response rate 78%) and 2005–2006 (n = 753, response rate 63.4%). Depression was diagnosed according to DSM-IV and dementia according to Kay's criteria. General linear models (GLMs) were used to test for differences between groups.ResultsDementia was related to age but not to birth cohort or sex. Major depression was related to sex (higher in women) but not to birth cohort or age. Minor depression was related to birth cohort, sex (higher in women), age (higher at age 75) and the interaction effect of birth cohort × age; that is, the prevalence of minor depression increased with age in the 2000s but not in the 1970s. Thus, the prevalence of minor depression was higher in 2005–2006 than in 1976–1977 among 75-year-olds for both men (12.4% v. 3.7%) and women (19.1% v. 5.6%) whereas there were no birth cohort differences at age 70.ConclusionsSecular changes were observed only for minor depression, which is considered to be related more to psychosocial factors than major depression. The high prevalence of minor depression in later-born birth cohorts emphasizes the importance of detecting minor depression in the elderly.

scholarly journals Birth Cohort Differences in Multimorbidity Burden Among Aging U.S. Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 257-257
Author(s):  
Nicholas Bishop ◽  
Steven Haas ◽  
Ana Quiñones
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Us

Abstract Multimorbidity is the co-occurrence of two or more chronic health conditions and affects more than half of the US population aged 65 and older. Recent trends suggest increased risk of poor self-reported health, physical disability, cognitive impairment, and mortality among later born birth cohorts, yet we are unaware of work examining cohort trends in multimorbidity among aging US adults. Observations were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2018) and included adults aged 51 and older across 7 birth cohorts (1923 and earlier, 1924–1930, 1931–1941, 1942–1947, 1948–1953, 1954–1959, and 1960–1965). Multimorbidity was measured as a count of 9 chronic conditions including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, lung disease, cancer (excluding skin cancer), depression, and cognitive impairment. General linear models adjusting for repeated measures and covariates including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education were used to identify whether trends in multimorbidity varied across birth cohort. 31,923 adults contributed 153,940 total observations, grand mean age was 68.0 (SD=10.09), and mean multimorbidity was 2.19 (SD=1.49). In analyses adjusted for age and other covariates, adults born 1948–1953 reported .34 more chronic conditions (SE=.03, p<.001), adults born 1954–1959 reported .42 more chronic conditions (SE=.03, p<.001), and adults born 1960–1965 reported .55 more chronic conditions (SE=.03, p<.001), than those born 1931–1941, respectively. Our preliminary results confirm increasing multimorbidity among later birth cohorts of older Americans and should help guide policy to manage impending health declines among older Americans.

scholarly journals Age-Specific Rates of Onset of Cannabis Use in Mexico

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio López-Méndez ◽  
Angélica Ospina-Escobar ◽  
Rowan Iskandar ◽  
Fernando Alarid-Escudero
Keyword(s):  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Tobacco Consumption ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Parametric Models ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cannabis Consumption ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Over Time

AbstractBackgroundOver the previous two decades, the prevalence of cannabis use has risen among the population in Mexico.AimsTo estimate the sex- and age-specific rates of onset of cannabis use over time.DesignTime-to-event flexible parametric models with spline specifications of the hazard function. Stratified analysis by sex, and control for temporal trends by year of data collection or decennial birth-cohort.SettingMexico.ParticipantsPooled sample of 141,342 respondents aged between 12 and 65 years from five nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, the Mexican National Surveys of Addictions (1998, 2002, 2008, 2012) and the Mexican National Survey on Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption (2016).MeasurementsWe estimated age-specific rates of onset of cannabis as the conditional rate of consuming cannabis for the first time at a specific age.FindingsAge-specific rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 individuals increased over time for both females and males. Peak rates per 1,000 ranged from 0.935 (95%CI= [0.754,1.140]) in 1998, to 5.390 (95%CI= [4.910,5.960]) in 2016 for females; and from 7.510 (95%CI= [5.516, 10.355]) in 1998, to 26.100 (95%CI= [23.162,30.169]) in 2016 for males. Across decennial birth-cohorts, peak rates of onset of cannabis use per 1,000 individuals for females ranged from 0.342 (95%CI= [0.127,0.898]) for those born in the 1930s, to 14.600 (95%CI= [13.200,16.100]) for those born in the 1990s; and for males, from 4.900 (95%CI= [0.768, 7.947]) for those born in the 1930s, to 38.700 (95%CI= [32.553,66.341]) for those born in the 1990s.ConclusionRates of onset of cannabis use for males are higher than for females; however, the change across recent cohorts of the rates of onset has increased at a faster rate among females. Our findings can inform and improve the implementation of policies around cannabis use by identifying subpopulations by age, sex, and birth-cohort that are at the highest risk of initiating cannabis consumption.

scholarly journals Patterns of opioid use (codeine, morphine or meperidine) in the Canadian population over time: analysis of the Longitudinal National Population Health Survey 1994–2011

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e029613
Author(s):  
Mayilee Canizares ◽  
J Denise Power ◽  
Y Raja Rampersaud ◽  
Elizabeth M Badley
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Generation X ◽  
Baby Boom ◽  
National Population Health Survey ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
World War ◽  
Cohort Differences ◽  
Period Effects ◽  
Over Time

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate cohort effects in selected opioids use and determine whether cohort differences were associated with changes in risk factors for use over time.DesignThis study presents secondary analyses of a longitudinal survey panel of the general population that collected data biannually.SettingData from the Canadian Longitudinal National Population Health Survey 1994–2011.PopulationThis study included 12 542 participants from the following birth cohorts: post-World War I (born 1915–1924), pre-World War II (born 1925–1934), World War II (born 1935–1944), Older Baby Boom (born 1945–1954), Younger Baby Boom (born 1955–1964), Older Generation X (born 1965–1974) and Younger Generation X (born 1975–1984).Main outcomeResponses to a single question asking about the use of codeine, morphine or meperidine in the past month (yes/no) were examined.ResultsOver and above age and period effects, there were significant cohort differences in selected opioids use: each succeeding recent cohort had greater use than their predecessors (eg, Gen Xers had greater use than younger baby boomers). Selected opioids use increased significantly from 1994 to 2002, plateauing between 2002 and 2006 and then declining until 2011. After accounting for cohort and period effects, there was a decline in use of these opioids with increasing age. Although pain was significantly associated with greater selected opioids use (OR=3.63, 95% CI 3.39 to 3.94), pain did not explain cohort differences. Cohort and period effects were no longer significant after adjusting for the number of chronic conditions. Cohort differences in selected opioids use mirrored cohort differences in multimorbidity. Use of these opioids was significantly associated with taking antidepressants or tranquillisers (OR=2.52, 95% CI 2.27 to 2.81 and OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.46 to 1.75, respectively).ConclusionsThe findings underscore the need to consider multimorbidity including possible psychological disorders and associated medications when prescribing opioids (codeine, morphine, meperidine), particularly for recent birth cohorts. Continued efforts to monitor prescription patterns and develop specific opioid use guidelines for multimorbidity appear warranted.

scholarly journals Decline in the negative association between low birth weight and cognitive ability

2016 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Goisis ◽  
Berkay Özcan ◽  
Mikko Myrskylä
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Very Low Birth Weight ◽  
Family Characteristics ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Cohort Differences

Low birth weight predicts compromised cognitive ability. We used data from the 1958 National Child Development Study (NCDS), the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS), and the 2000–2002 Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) to analyze how this association has changed over time. Birth weight was divided into two categories, <2,500 g (low) and 2,500–4,500 g (normal) and verbal cognitive ability was measured at the age of 10 or 11 y. A range of maternal and family characteristics collected at or soon after the time of birth were considered. Linear regression was used to analyze the association between birth weight and cognitive ability in a baseline model and in a model that adjusted for family characteristics. The standardized difference (SD) in cognitive scores between low-birth-weight and normal-birth-weight children was large in the NCDS [−0.37 SD, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.46, −0.27] and in the BCS (−0.34, 95% CI: −0.43, −0.25) cohorts, and it was more than halved for children born in the MCS cohort (−0.14, 95% CI: −0.22, −0.06). The adjustment for family characteristics did not explain the cross-cohort differences. The results show that the association between low birth weight and decreased cognitive ability has declined between the 1950s and 1970s birth cohorts and the 2000--2002 birth cohort, despite a higher proportion of the low-birth-weight babies having a very low birth weight (<1,500 g) in the more recent birth cohort. Advancements in obstetric and neonatal care may have attenuated the negative consequences associated with being born small.

scholarly journals 1270The Contribution of Lifestyle Patterns to Clustering of Elevated Depressive Symptoms within Birth Cohorts

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gueltzow ◽  
Maarten J Bijlsma ◽  
Frank J van Lenthe ◽  
Mikko Myrskylä
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Decomposition Analysis ◽  
Cohort Effects ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Cohort Differences

Abstract Background Some birth cohorts experience a larger burden of depression than others. We hypothesize that lifestyle, i.e. BMI, alcohol consumption, smoking and physical activity, are potential drivers of these generational differences. Methods We analyzed data from US adults aged 50-80 years enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study (N = 163,760 person-years). Birth cohort effects were estimated with the age-period-cohort model approach according to Carstensen. Consequently, we assessed the contribution of lifestyle factors by comparing the predicted probability of elevated depressive symptoms to a counterfactual scenario in which all birth cohorts are assigned the lifestyle factor distribution of the 1945 cohort (counterfactual decomposition analysis). We stratified all analyses by sex and ethnicity. Results BMI contributes to an increased probability of elevated depressive symptoms of up to 32.7% (95%CI: 190.9-11.23%, 1923 cohort) for cohorts born before 1927 and a decrease of up to 16.7% (95%CI: 0.5-26.8, 1964 cohort) for cohorts born after 1959. Contributions are most pronounced in females and white/Caucasians. Alcohol consumption contributes up to 20% (95%CI: 0.8%;45.3%, 1925 cohort) to cohort effects of elevated depressive symptoms, whereas the magnitude differs by ethnicity. We found no evidence for contributions of smoking or physical activity. Conclusions Birth cohort effects of elevated depressive symptoms can be partly explained by lifestyle. In particular, mental health of females and the white/Caucasian population may have suffered from the increase in obesity levels in the US. Key messages BMI and alcohol consumption, but not smoking or physical activity, contribute to birth cohort differences in depression risk.

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