Obesity, race/ethnicity and the multiple dimensions of socioeconomic status during the transition to adulthood: A factor analysis approach

Abstract

Racial/ethnic disparities in obesity widen dramatically during young adulthood in the US. Understanding racial/ethnic differences in the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and obesity can provide insight on these disparities. However, the delay and complexity of the transition to adulthood creates challenges for defining SES using traditional, single indicators, such as income or years of education. Our objective was to define a multidimensional measure of young adult SES using exploratory factor analysis and to investigate whether distinct SES dimensions differentially predicted obesity across race/ethnicity in 11,250 young adults (mean age = 21.9 years) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Wave III: 2000-2001. Four factors (social advantage; schooling; employment; and economic hardship) extracted from a principal factor analysis on 38 SES indicators comprised our multidimensional measure of young adult SES. The respondents' scores on each factor were entered into gender-stratified Poisson regression models to estimate the relative risk of young adult obesity for a contrast of approximately one standard deviation in score. The association of the "Social advantage" and "Economic hardship" factors with obesity differed by race/ethnicity (p<0.05 for Wald test of interaction) in females; high "Social advantage" scores were inversely associated with obesity in white and Hispanic females (9-20% lower) while high scores on "Economic hardship" were positively associated with obesity (7-76% higher) in white and Asian females. In contrast, no significant racial/ethnic differences were detected in young adult males. The "Schooling" factor was significantly protective (RR=0.91; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.98) for females of all racial/ethnic groups. These results facilitate understanding of the impact of multiple, distinct SES dimensions during the complex transition to adulthood and thus provide salient information for reducing racial/ethnic disparities in obesity during this important period for obesity development.

Gender, Social Origins and Accumulated Disadvantages Associated with Mid-Life Body Weight in Taiwan

“…Obtaining a college degree and obtaining a Class I occupation at young adulthood lowers BMI at midlife for both men and women. This parallels findings in a recent US study that found persistent social disadvantage during the transition from adolescent to young adulthood increased the risk of obesity persistence for both males and females [24]. Further, both genders in this study obtain the highest occupational class in their labor market entry period had significantly lower BMIs in mid-life adulthood.…”

Overweight and Obesity: Prevalence, Consequences, and Causes of a Growing Public Health Problem

“…SES determinants did not show any racial/ethnic differences among obesity indicators among males. The authors suggested that historical and longstanding factors associated with decreased SES experienced by blacks may have led to a sort of Bweathering^such that SES indicators relative to obesity have become less robust [47].…”

Obesity and Quality of Life in Communities of Diverse Ethnicity and Low Socioeconomics

“…In contrast, no significant racial/ethnic differences were observed in males. The schooling factor was significantly positive for females of all racial/ethnic groups (ScharounLee M, Adair L et al, 2009). The racial/ethnic disparities in obesity escalate from childhood to adulthood in the United States and may be attributed to the differences in socioeconomic status (Scharoun-Lee M, .…”

“…Local community leaders in the south-side of Chicago felt awareness was higher for acute health conditions than for obesity, and though parents were concerned about their children's health parents were stressed by competing priorities and constrained by lack of knowledge, parenting skills, time, and financial resources (Burnet & Plaut, 2008). Distinct socioeconomic status dimensions can differentially predict obesity across race/ethnicity (Scharoun-Lee M, Adair L et al, 2009). After studying the effect of social advantage, schooling, employment and economic hardship, the authors concluded that the association of social advantage and economic hardship factors with obesity differed by race/ethnicity in females (Scharoun-Lee M, Adair L et al, 2009).…”

“…Distinct socioeconomic status dimensions can differentially predict obesity across race/ethnicity (Scharoun-Lee M, Adair L et al, 2009). After studying the effect of social advantage, schooling, employment and economic hardship, the authors concluded that the association of social advantage and economic hardship factors with obesity differed by race/ethnicity in females (Scharoun-Lee M, Adair L et al, 2009). High social advantage was inversely associated with obesity in white and Hispanic females (9-20% lower) while high scores on economic hardship were positively associated with obesity in white and Asian females.…”