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Biomedical subjects

Sally Macintyre

Publications and source records attributed to Sally Macintyre.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Early life predictors of childhood intelligence: evidence from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the early life predictors of childhood intelligence. DESIGN: Cohort study of 10 424 children who were born in Aberdeen (Scotland) between 1950 and 1956. RESULTS: Social class of father around the time of birth, gravidity, maternal age, maternal physical condition, whether the child was born outside of marriage, prematurity, intrauterine growth, and childhood height were all independently associated with childhood intelligence at ages 7, 9, and 11. The effect of social class at birth was particularly pronounced, with a graded linear association across the distribution even with adjustment for all other covariates (p<0.001 for linear trend). Those from the lowest social class (V) had intelligence scores that were on average 0.9-1.0 of a standard deviation lower than those from the higher groups (I and II) at each of the three ages of intelligence testing. Collectively, the early life predictors that were examined explained 16% of the variation in intelligence at each age. CONCLUSIONS: Father's social class around the time of birth was an important predictor of childhood intelligence, even after adjustment for maternal characteristics and perinatal and childhood factors. Studies of the association of childhood intelligence with future adult disease need to ensure that the association is not fully explained by socioeconomic position.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Accuracy of adults' recall of childhood social class: findings from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s study.

BACKGROUND: Although adult reported childhood socioeconomic position has been related to health outcomes in many studies, little is known about the validity of such distantly recalled information. This study evaluated the validity of adults' reports of childhood paternal social class. METHODS: Data are drawn from the Aberdeen children of the 1950s study, a cohort of 12 150 people born in Aberdeen (Scotland) who took part in a school based survey in 1962. In this survey, two indices of early life socioeconomic position were collected: occupational social class at birth (abstracted from maternity records) and occupational social class in childhood (reported during the 1962 survey by the study participants). Between 2000 and 2003, a questionnaire was mailed to traced middle aged cohort members in which inquiries were made about their fathers' occupation when they were aged 12 years. The level of agreement between these reports and prospectively collected data on occupational social class was assessed. RESULTS: In total, 7183 (63.7%) persons responded to the mid-life questionnaire. Agreement was moderate between social class of father recalled in adulthood and that measured in early life (kappa statistics were 0.47 for social class measured at birth, and 0.56 for social class reported by the child). The relation of occupational social class to birth weight and childhood intelligence was in the expected directions, although weaker for adults' reports in comparison with prospectively gathered data. CONCLUSIONS: In studies of adult disease aetiology, associations between childhood social class based on adult recall of parental occupation and health outcomes are likely to underestimate real effects.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2005

Childhood socioeconomic position, educational attainment, and adult cardiovascular risk factors: the Aberdeen children of the 1950s cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the associations of childhood socioeconomic position with cardiovascular disease risk factors (smoking, binge alcohol drinking, and being overweight) and examined the roles of educational attainment and cognitive functioning in these associations. METHODS: Data were derived from a cohort study involving 7184 individuals who were born in Aberdeen, Scotland, between 1950 and 1956; had detailed records on perinatal characteristics, childhood anthropometry, and cognitive functioning; and responded to a mailed questionnaire when they were aged 45 to 52 years. RESULTS: Strong graded associations existed between social class at birth and smoking, binge drinking, and being overweight. Adjustment for educational attainment completely attenuated these associations. However, after control for adult social class, adult income and other potential confounding or mediating factors, some association remained. CONCLUSIONS: Educational attainment is an important mediating factor in the relation between socioeconomic adversity in childhood and smoking, binge drinking, and being overweight in adulthood.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2004

Are social comparisons of homes and cars related to psychosocial health?

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that perceiving oneself to be inferior to those around one is a psychosocial risk factor associated with ill health. The aim of this study was to examine whether negative social comparisons of the worth of two common assets (homes and cars) were related to psychosocial health (i.e. lower self-esteem and mastery, higher anxiety, and depression). METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of adults in the West of Scotland (sampling from the 1997 electoral roll, response rate was 50%, achieved sample 2838). RESULTS: Having adjusted for socio-demographic variables, rating one's house/flat as worth less than others was associated with lower self-esteem (P < 0.001) and mastery (P < 0.001) and higher depression (P < 0.007) and anxiety (P < 0.012). Rating one's car as worth less than others was not significantly associated with these psychosocial variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings lend some support, but only in relation to the home, to the hypothesis that perceiving oneself to be worse off in relation to those around is related to poorer psychosocial health.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The Aberdeen Children of the 1950s cohort study: background, methods and follow-up information on a new resource for the study of life course and intergenerational influences on health.

In this paper we introduce and describe in detail an addition to the UK's population-based resources for the investigation of biological and social influences on health across the life course and between generations: the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study. We also provide an account of postwar Aberdeen when study members were growing up, report on findings of analyses of data from the original survey on which this study is based and its follow-up, assess the strengths and limitations of the study, and outline current and future research directions. This cohort comprises individuals born in Aberdeen, Scotland (UK) between 1950 and 1956, and is derived from 15 thousand subjects who took part in the Aberdeen Child Development Survey, a cross-sectional study of 'mental subnormality' (learning disability) in a population of all children who were attending Aberdeen primary schools in December 1962. Data collection included information on birthweight, gestational age, childhood height and weight, tests of cognition and behavioural disorder, and a range of multilevel socio-economic indicators. In 1998 we began the process of revitalising this cohort (now termed the Aberdeen Children of the 1950s study). We have been successful in ascertaining the current vital status and whereabouts of 98.5% of a target population of 12 150 subjects (6276 males, 5874 females) with full baseline data. The large majority (81%) of study participants still reside in Scotland and many (73%) have remained in the Grampian region which incorporates Aberdeen. At the present time, a total of almost 500 subjects are known to have died. Linkages to hospital admissions and other health endpoints captured through the Scottish Morbidity Records system have been completed. This includes an intergenerational linkage to approximately eight thousand deliveries in Scotland occurring to female members of the study population. A postal questionnaire to all traced surviving cohort members has also been distributed.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Socio-economic differences in cardiovascular disease and physical activity: stereotypes and reality.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is patterned by socio-economic status, being more common in lower social classes. Since physical inactivity is a risk factor for CVD it might be assumed that it is more common in lower social classes. We examine major recent UK population surveys and show that this assumption is incorrect; although higher social class adults engage in more formal sports activities, they are less likely to engage in other (e.g. occupational) activities. Lower social class children are more likely to engage in sports and active play. We also show that although Scotland has higher rates of CVD than England, it does not have higher prevalences of all CVD risk factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Gender, work-home conflict, and morbidity amongst white-collar bank employees in the United Kingdom.

Most research on work-home conflict focuses solely on women. This study compares men and women's perceptions of the extent to which paid work interferes with family life, and examines associations between work-home conflict and health. Data were collected from 2,176 full-time white-collar employees of a British bank. We did not find any significant gender differences in perceptions of work-home conflict. However, predictors of work-home conflict did vary by gender; having children and being in a senior position were more strongly related to work-home conflict for women than for men, while working unsociable hours was more important for men than for women. Work-home conflict was strongly associated with reporting fair or poor self-assessed health, a high number of reported physical symptoms and minor psychological morbidity (GHQ-12). These associations were equally strong for men and women. Our results suggest that work-home conflict is a problem for men as well as women.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Associations with successful ageing in the "Healthy Old People in Edinburgh" cohort: being well, fit and healthy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Six hundred and three community-resident, healthy, unmedicated people aged 70 years and over had psychometric testing and blood pressure measured in 1990-1. Participants were followed up in 1994-5, 1997-8 and in this fourth wave of the project, 1999-2000, to determine key predictors of, and associations with successful ageing. METHODS: Current status of all cohort participants was determined. Those traced and alive were invited for re-assessment. Those who agreed underwent psychometric testing, including memory and fluid intelligence tests, a number of physiological measurements, including blood pressure, grip strength and respiratory function, and questionnaires were administered enquiring about disability, self-esteem, and a range of socioeconomic and socioenvironmental items. RESULTS: At Wave 4, 201 participants were visited and re-tested adequately. During follow-up, mortality (N = 210) was predicted by gender, occupation, premorbid intelligence and blood pressure. Disability related to age, weight, respiratory function, grip strength and current mental ability. A model of health was developed that comprised dimensions of medical well-being (absence of disease), physiological fitness and self-perceived health. The latter related strongly to disability and pre-morbid intelligence. Except for memory score at Wave 3, medical well-being related poorly to any predictor variable from Waves 1-3. Physiological fitness related to age, gender and current mental ability. CONCLUSIONS: The concept of successful ageing is complex, but this cohort of older people related their perceived health closely to lack of disability. In this cohort, current socioeconomic and socioenvironmental factors were not strongly linked with health at this age.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

What features of the home and the area might help to explain observed relationships between housing tenure and health? Evidence from the west of Scotland.

This study aimed to explore the role of dwelling conditions and neighbourhood characteristics in explaining the frequently observed association between housing tenure and health. A postal questionnaire, focusing on a number of specific aspects of the home and the area, was sent to a random sample of adults in the west of Scotland (achieved sample size 2867, response rate 50%). The health measures were limiting long-standing illness, self-assessed health, recent symptoms, and anxiety and depression. Having controlled for age, sex, and marital status, housing tenure explained, respectively, 2.7%, 5.4%, 3.9%, 2.4% and 5.4% of the variance in these variables. These percentages were reduced by between 93% (for anxiety) and 73% (for self-assessed health) when housing problems, housing fixtures, overcrowding, dwelling type, access to garden, area type and area amenities were introduced into the model. This suggests that features of the dwelling and its surroundings help to explain observed associations between tenure and health in the UK, and that housing and area problems may be particularly important. Housing improvements and urban regeneration may help to reduce the health gap between housing tenures, and more generally to reduce inequalities in health.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Socio-economic position and health: what you observe depends on how you measure it.

BACKGROUND: A number of different socio-economic classifications have been used in relation to health in the United Kingdom. The aim of this study was to compare the predictive power of different socio-economic classifications in relation to a range of health measures. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to a random sample of adults in the West of Scotland (sampling from 1997 electoral roll, response rate 50 percent achieved sample 2,867). RESULTS: Associations between social position and health vary by socio-economic classification, health measure and gender. Limiting long-standing illness is more socially patterned than recent illness; income, Registrar General Social Class, housing tenure and car access are more predictive of health than the new National Statistics Socio Economic Classification; and men show steeper socio-economic gradients than women. CONCLUSION: Although there is a consistent picture of poorer health among more disadvantaged groups, however measured, in seeking to explain and reduce social inequalities in health we need to take a more differentiated approach that does not assume equivalence among social classifications and health measures.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Gender differences in mental health: evidence from three organisations.

It is commonly observed that women report higher levels of minor psychiatric morbidity than men. However, most research fails to control for the gendered distribution of social roles (e.g. paid work and domestic work) and so does not compare men and women in similar positions. In this short report, we examine the distribution of minor psychiatric morbidity (measured by the 12 item General Health Questionnaire) amongst men and women working in similar jobs within three white-collar organisations in Britain, after controlling for domestic and socioeconomic circumstances. Data from self-completion questionnaires were collected in a Bank (n = 2,176), a University (n = 1,641) and the Civil Service (n = 6,171). In all three organisations women had higher levels of minor psychiatric morbidity than men, but the differences were not great; in only the Civil Service sample did this reach statistical significance. We conclude that generalisations about gender differences in minor psychiatric morbidity can be unhelpful, as these differences may vary depending on the context of the study.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Place effects on health: how can we conceptualise, operationalise and measure them?

In this paper we highlight what we consider to be a lack of adequate conceptualisation. operationalisation and measurement of "place effects". We briefly review recent historical trends in the study of the effects of place on health in industrial countries, and argue that "place effects" often appear to have the status of a residual category, an unspecified black box of somewhat mystical influences on health which remain after investigators have controlled for a range of individual and place characteristics. We note that the distinction between "composition" and "context" may be more apparent than real, and that features of both material infrastructure and collective social functioning may influence health. We suggest using a framework of universal human needs as a basis for thinking about how places may influence health, and recommend the testing of hypotheses about specific chains of causation that might link place of residence with health outcomes.

Causality↗
PubMed2002

How similar are the smoking and drinking habits of men and women in non-manual jobs?

BACKGROUND: Men used to be more likely to smoke and drink heavily than women. However, as social roles changed, so have gender differences in health-related behaviours. This paper explores whether gender differences in these behaviours persist or disappear among men and women occupying similar social roles: working in the same non-manual jobs in Britain. METHODS: Self-completion questionnaires were distributed to full-time employees in a bank (n = 2,139) and a university (n = 1,611). Response rates were 76% and 67% respectively. Respondents were asked whether they smoked currently. Men who reported drinking more than 21 units of alcohol, and women who reported drinking more than 14 units, in the last week were classed as 'heavy' drinkers. RESULTS: In both organizations there were no significant gender differences in smoking, but men were significantly more likely than women to report drinking 'heavily'. Employees in clerical jobs in the university were more than twice as likely as their more senior colleagues to smoke, but were significantly less likely to report drinking 'heavily' in both organizations. High masculinity scores among both men and women were associated with smoking and 'heavy' drinking. CONCLUSION: Men and women occupying similar social roles are equally likely to smoke but men are significantly more likely to drink 'heavily'. The relationship between paid work variables and these health behaviours are similar for both men and women. The association between high masculinity scores and health-damaging behaviours in both men and women points to the importance of considering gender role orientation, rather than just comparing men and women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Blood pressure reactions to stress and the prediction of future blood pressure: effects of sex, age, and socioeconomic position.

OBJECTIVE: This epidemiological study examined whether the magnitude of blood pressure reactions to mental stress was associated with future blood pressure and whether the strength of association was affected by sex, age, and socioeconomic position. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Resting blood pressure was recorded at initial baseline and in response to mental stress. Five-year follow-up resting blood pressure data were available for 990 (68%) of the participants; 333 were 23 years old at the time of stress testing, 427 were 43, and 230 were 63. There were 541 women and 449 men; 440 came from manual and 550 from nonmanual occupation households. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure reactions to stress correlated positively with follow-up systolic blood pressure; no association was found for diastolic blood pressure reactions and follow-up diastolic blood pressure. In multivariate tests, systolic reactivity remained predictive of follow-up systolic blood pressure and accounted for 2.3% of the variance not explained by age, body mass index, and initial baseline systolic blood pressure. Systolic and diastolic reactivity predicted 5-year upward drift in systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively, accounting for an additional 3.6% and 2.9% of variance, respectively, in multivariate models. The predictive value of reactivity was greater for participants from manual occupation households and tended to be greater for men. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that blood reactions to mental stress predict future blood pressure status and the increase in resting blood pressure over time. The magnitude of the prediction appears to vary with socioeconomic position and sex.

Adult↗