Socioeconomic Privilege in Childhood and Later Life Cognition

Abstract

Prior studies have demonstrated the effects of early socioeconomic status on later life cognition; yet the degree to which this effect operates directly, or indirectly through adult factors, is not well documented. Drawing from accumulation theories, we use longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study and its Life History Mail Survey (N=11,761) to examine the extent to which childhood socioeconomic privilege protects against later life cognitive decline and whether this effect is direct or indirect through measures of adult socioeconomic position. Analyses reveal that, among childhood privilege measures, consistent attendance in private school, participation in college preparation, foreign language, and multiple clubs in high school were most protective of later life cognition. The effect of cumulative childhood privilege on later life cognition is both direct and indirect through increased wealth and education credentials and the strength of this relationship is particularly robust for those demonstrating upward social mobility.