Work-Family Life Courses and Metabolic Markers in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development

The aim was to investigate whether the combined work-family life courses of British men and women were associated with differences in metabolic markers?waist circumference, blood pressure, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glycated haemoglobin?in mid-life. We used data from the Medical Research Council?s National Survey of Health and Development?the 1946 British birth cohort. Multi-channel sequence analysis was used to create a typology of eight work-family life course types combining information on work, partnerships and parenthood between ages 16?51. Linear regression tested associations between work-family types and metabolic outcomes at age 53 on multiply imputed data (20 imputations) of >2,400 participants. Compared with men with strong ties to employment and early transitions to family life, men who made later transitions to parenthood and maintained strong ties to paid work had smaller waist circumferences (-2.16cm, 95% CI: -3.73, -0.59), lower triglycerides (9.78% lower, 95% CI: 0.81, 17.94) and lower blood pressure (systolic: -4.03mmHg, 95% CI: -6.93, -1.13; diastolic: -2.34mmHg, 95% CI: -4.15, -0.53). Married men and women who didn?t have children had increased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (7.23% higher, 95% CI: 0.68, 14.21) and lower waist circumferences (-4.67cm, 95% CI: -8.37, -0.97), respectively. For men later transitions to parenthood combined with strong ties to paid work were linked to reduced metabolic risk in mid-life. Fewer differences between work-family types and metabolic markers were seen for women

Mortality differences by partnership status in England and Wales : the effect of living arrangements or health selection?

Sebastian Franke’s research was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [ES/J500094/1] through the North West Doctoral Training Centre Social Statistics pathway (Ph.D. project: “Health, Mortality and Partnership Status: Protection or Selection”). The permission of the Office for National Statistics to use the Longitudinal Study is gratefully acknowledged, as is the help provided by staff of the Centre for Longitudinal Study Information and User Support (CeLSIUS). CeLSIUS is supported by the ESRC Census of Population Programme (Award Ref: ES/K000365/1).This paper investigates the relationship between partnership status and mortality in England and Wales. Using data from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study (ONS LS) for the period between 2001 and 2011, we examine whether married people have lower mortality levels than unmarried individuals; whether individuals who cohabit have mortality levels similar to those of married or single persons; and how much the fact that married couples live with someone rather than alone explains their low mortality. Our analysis shows first that married individuals have lower mortality than unmarried persons. Second, men and women in pre-marital unions exhibit mortality levels similar to those of married men and women, whereas mortality levels are elevated for post-marital cohabitants. Third, controlling for household size and the presence of children reduces mortality differences between married and unmarried non-partnered individuals, but significant differences persist. The study supports both protection and selection theory. The increase in mortality differences by age group between never-married cohabitants and married couples is likely a sign of the long-term accumulation of health and wealth benefits of marriage. Similar mortality levels of cohabiting and married couples at younger ages suggest that healthier individuals are more likely to find a partner.PostprintPeer reviewe

Adaptação transcultural da Escala de Independência em Atividades da Vida Diária (Escala de Katz) Cross-cultural adaptation of the Independence in Activities of Daily Living Index (Katz Index)

Desenvolvimento e análise do desempenho de uma adaptação transcultural para o português da Escala de Katz de independência em atividades da vida diária. Duas traduções e duas retrotraduções analisaram as equivalências conceitual, de itens e semântica para a escolha da versão final. A equivalência operacional foi avaliada em um estudo piloto, testando-se a confiabilidade e a consistência interna da versão adaptada por meio de reteste no mesmo dia em 156 pacientes ou após sete dias da primeira entrevista. A resolução de diferenças sutis em alguns itens levou à equivalência cultural. A versão final foi considerada fácil de se entender e de aplicar. A concordância corrigida para o acaso (kappa ponderado) foi de 0,91. O alfa de Chronbach variou de 0,80 a 0,92. A versão em português da Escala de Katz de independência em atividades da vida diária, completamente desenvolvida e testada, provou ser equivalente à original em inglês. Os itens apresentaram consistência interna e as taxa foram confiáveis.<br>This study involved the development and performance assessment of a cultural adaptation of the Katz scale of independence in activities of daily living, translated into Portuguese in Brazil. Two translations and two back-translations of the items were analyzed by experts in order to decide on the final version. Operational equivalence was assessed in a pilot study. The reliability and internal consistency of the adapted version were assessed by retesting 156 patients on the same day or 7 days after the first interview. Cultural equivalence was achieved after resolving subtle differences in some items. The final version was considered easy to understand and use. Chance-corrected agreement (weighted kappa) was 0.91. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.80 to 0.92. CONCLUSIONS: a Portuguese version of the Katz scale of independence in activities of daily living, thoroughly developed and tested, proved equivalent to the original version in English. The items were internally consistent and the rates were reliable