AIMS: We aimed to investigate the association of household crowding in childhood with trajectories of depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS: We studied 47,010 participants (56 % women, 63 years at baseline) from SHARE. Using multinomial logistic regression, we estimated odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the association of household crowding in childhood (number of household members/number of rooms at the age of 10) with trajectories of depressive symptoms (EURO-D scale), which were generated with growth mixture modeling. We adjusted for resources in childhood, sociodemographic and health-related characteristics in mid-life and older age and tested effect modification by sex. RESULTS: We identified four trajectories of depressive symptoms: constantly low (n = 33,969), decreasing (n = 5595), increasing (n = 5574) and constantly high (n = 1872). When compared to the those with constantly low depressive symptoms and adjusting for all covariates, household crowding in childhood was associated with greater odds of constantly high (OR 1.12; 95 % CI 1.08-1.17), decreasing (OR 1.11; 95 % CI 1.07-1.15) and increasing (OR 1.09; 95 % CI 1.06-1.13) depressive symptoms. The associations were stronger in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of household crowding in childhood may ameliorate the development of constant as well as transient depressive symptoms during ageing. The effect can be stronger in women than in men.

• MeSH
• charakteristiky rodiny MeSH
• deprese * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nahuštění v prostoru * MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stárnutí MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

We examined the relationship between educational attainment (EA) and anxiety symptoms in a sample of 77,792 individuals (median age = 64 years, 55% female) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Using logistic regression, we estimated odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between EA (7 educational levels based on International Standard Classification of Education) and anxiety symptoms (12 or more points from the shortened 5-item version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory), adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors. We further explored whether the relationship varied by region, sex and age group. Independent of sociodemographic and health-related factors, higher levels of EA were associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms. The magnitude of this association plateaued at first stage of tertiary education (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.35-0.47, p < 0.001). The association was stronger in females, middle-aged individuals and in Central and Eastern Europe while not apparent in Northern Europe. Our findings suggest that individuals with higher education might be protected against anxiety throughout life. The protective effect of education against anxiety symptoms is more pronounced in less egalitarian regions and in females.

• MeSH
• Evropané MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stupeň vzdělání * MeSH
• úzkost * epidemiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 affected people and countries disproportionately and continues to impact the health of people. The aim is to investigate protective health and socio-geographical factors for post-COVID-19 conditions in adults aged 50 years and older in Europe. METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, collected from June to August 2021, protective factors against post-COVID-19 condition among 1909 respondents who self-reported a positive COVID-19 test result were investigated using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Male adults living outside of Czechia, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia (Visegrad group, V4), who received the COVID-19 vaccination, tertiary or higher education, had a healthy weight (body mass index, BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and no underlying health condition/s, showed protective effects against post-COVID-19 condition. Health inequalities associated with BMI were observed in education attainment and comorbidities, with higher BMI having lower education attainment and higher comorbidities. Health inequality was particularly evident in individuals in V4 with higher obesity prevalence and lower attainment of higher education than those living in other regions in the study. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that healthy weight and higher education attainment are predictors associated with a lower incidence of post-COVID-19 condition. Health inequality associated with education attainment was particularly relevant in V4. Our results highlight health inequality in which BMI was associated with comorbidities and educational attainment. To reduce obesity prevalence among older people with lower education, raising awareness about the risks of obesity and providing assistance in maintaining a healthy weight are needed.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• disparity zdravotního stavu * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• obezita epidemiologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• socioekonomické faktory MeSH
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

The occurrence of depression is influenced by social relationships, however, most studies focus on individuals, not couples. We aimed to study how depressive symptoms of couples evolve over time and determine, which characteristics are associated with their distinct trajectories. A multi-centric cohort sample of 11,136 heterosexual couples (mean age = 60.76) from 16 European countries was followed for up to 12 years (SHARE study). Information on depressive symptoms measured by EURO-D scale was collected every 2 years. Dyadic growth mixture modeling extracted four distinct classes of couples: both non-depressed (76.91%); only women having consistently high depressive symptoms while men having consistently low depressive symptoms (8.08%); both having increasing depressive symptoms (7.83%); and both having decreasing depressive symptoms (7.18%). Couples with increasing depressive symptoms had the highest prevalence of relationship dissolution and bereavement. In comparison to the nondepressed class, individuals with any depressive symptoms were less psychologically and physically well. Our results suggest that distinct mechanisms are responsible for couples' various longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms.

• MeSH
• deprese * diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• interpersonální vztahy * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

There remains a lack of conclusive evidence as to the merit of season of birth as a predictor of mental illness across contexts. We studied 72,370 individuals (55% women; mean age 66) from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Depressive symptoms were assessed with EURO-D scale and symptoms of anxiety with modified Beck Anxiety Inventory. Multilevel modeling was used to assess the association of season of birth as well as month of birth with symptoms of depression and anxiety, by sex and region. Adjusting for sex and age, month of birth explained only 0.01% to 0.07% of anxiety and depressive symptoms with non-significant improvement in the overall models; using season of birth instead of month of birth added 0.00% to 0.04% of explained variance. When stratified by sex and European region, age explained 0.23% to 5.19% of anxiety and depressive symptoms; the addition of month of birth or season of birth improved the models by negligible amount. Season of birth and month of birth are not reliable predictors of anxiety and depression across the life course.

• MeSH
• deprese * epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• porod MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• úzkost * epidemiologie   MeSH
• úzkostné poruchy MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

Despite a growing amount of research on sexuality in mid and later life, relatively little is known about the associations among sexual activity, relationship types, and health. This paper analyzes data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) for the subpopulation of respondents residing in the Czech Republic (N = 1304, 49% women; Mage = 69.1, SDage = 8.0). Hierarchical ordinal regression models showed that persons who stayed in newly formed or less traditional relationship types, such as dating, Living-Apart-Together (LAT) relationships, and cohabitation, reported a higher frequency of sexual activity than married people. Overall, the dating and LAT relationship group displayed the highest sexual frequency and the lowest incidence of chronic diseases. People in marriages and cohabitation were comparable with respect to the number of chronic diseases. The findings suggest that sexual activity is intertwined with later-life relationships and sexual frequency may vary according to the relationship type. Future research may benefit from probing the extent to which partnered sex is important for maintaining bonds between older partners with separate households.

• MeSH
• charakteristiky rodiny MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• manželství MeSH
• sexualita * MeSH
• sexuální chování * MeSH
• sexuální partneři MeSH
• stárnutí MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

BACKGROUND: Social isolation is a growing public health concern for older adults, as it has been associated with poor health and premature mortality. On the other hand, physical inactivity and an inadequate diet are important health risk behaviours associated with physical and mental health problems. Considering that there is no research examining the possible relationship between social isolation and the above mentioned health risk behaviours of European middle-aged and older adults, this cross-sectional study aims to contribute to filling this gap. METHODS: We used data from the SHARE project (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), wave 6 (2015), release 7.0.0 (N = 67,173 individuals from 17 European countries plus Israel). Statistical tests for a two-group comparison were carried out to assess the differences between highly socially isolated individuals and low/intermediate socially isolated ones. Logistic regressions by country were performed to examine whether social isolation is associated with physical inactivity and an inadequate diet in the population aged 50 + . RESULTS: Our results point out that, for the majority of the countries analysed, highly socially isolated individuals are more likely than low/intermediate isolated ones to be physically inactive and to consume less fruit or vegetables on a daily basis. In 9 European countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Belgium, Poland, Luxembourg and Estonia) highly socially isolated individuals are more likely to be physically inactive. On the other hand, in 14 European countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy, France, Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Estonia and Croatia), high social isolation increases the likelihood of having an inadequate diet. CONCLUSION: Highly socially isolated European middle-aged and older adults are more prone to be physically inactive and to have an inadequate diet in terms of daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. The reduced social integration, social support and companionship of the highly socially isolated individuals may explain this association. Our results reinforce the importance of social and health policies targeting highly socially isolated European individuals aged 50 + .

• MeSH
• dieta MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• sedavý životní styl * MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sociální izolace * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Belgie MeSH
• Česká republika MeSH
• Chorvatsko MeSH
• Estonsko MeSH
• Evropa MeSH
• Francie MeSH
• Itálie MeSH
• Izrael MeSH
• Lucembursko MeSH
• Německo MeSH
• Polsko MeSH
• Rakousko MeSH
• Řecko MeSH
• Slovinsko MeSH
• Švédsko MeSH
• Švýcarsko MeSH

We use harmonized household panel data from Europe and the US and a three-state survival model to provide comparable measurements of education and gender inequalities in total, healthy, and unhealthy life expectancies at age 50. Common across countries, the education advantage in total life expectancy is larger for males but the education advantage in (fewer) unhealthy years is larger for females. Counterfactual decompositions show that these results arise because the education advantage in conditional survival rates is relatively more important for males, while the education advantage in better health transitions is relatively more important for females. Across countries, the US stands out with the largest education gradient in healthy life expectancy.

• MeSH
• disparity zdravotního stavu MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• naděje dožití * MeSH
• stupeň vzdělání MeSH
• zdravotní stav * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

We aimed to explore sex differences in the association of childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) with the level of cognitive performance and the rate of cognitive decline. We studied 84,059 individuals (55% women; mean age 64 years) from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. Sex differences in the association of childhood SEP (household characteristics at age 10) with the level of cognitive performance (verbal fluency, immediate recall, delayed recall) were analysed using multilevel linear regression. Structural equation modelling tested education, depressive symptoms and physical state as mediators. The relationship between childhood socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage and the rate of cognitive decline was assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Higher childhood SEP was associated with a higher level of cognitive performance to a greater extent in women (B = 0.122; 95% CI 0.092-0.151) than in men (B = 0.109; 95% CI 0.084-0.135). The strongest mediator was education. Childhood socioeconomic disadvantage was related to a higher rate of decline in delayed recall in both sexes, with a greater association in women. Strategies to prevent impaired late-life cognitive functioning, such as reducing childhood socioeconomic disadvantages and improving education, might have a greater benefit for women.

• MeSH
• deprese psychologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• kognice fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sexuální faktory * MeSH
• společenská třída * MeSH
• stárnutí fyziologie   MeSH
• stupeň vzdělání MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

BACKGROUND: Several early-life factors have been associated with higher risk of developing dementia. It is unclear whether season of birth (SOB) can affect cognitive aging in older adults or not. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the association of SOB with the level of cognitive performance as well as with the rate of cognitive decline. METHODS: We studied 70,203 individuals who participated in the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe. Cognition was measured with tests on verbal fluency and immediate and delayed recall. We assessed the association of SOB with the level of cognitive performance using multiple linear regression and with the rate of cognitive decline using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: When compared to individuals born in winter and adjusted for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, being born in summer was associated with a higher level of delayed recall (B 0.05; 95%CI 0.01 to 0.09) and verbal fluency (B 0.15; 95%CI 0.00 to 0.29) and being born in fall with a higher level of immediate recall (B 0.04; 95%CI 0.01 to 0.08) and verbal fluency (B 0.15; 95%CI 0.01 to 0.29). Individuals born in summer had a higher yearly decline in delayed recall (B -0.005; 95%CI -0.009 to 0.000), while the scores in delayed recall in participants born in spring showed an inverse trend (B 0.005; 95%CI 0.000 to 0.010). CONCLUSION: Individuals born in winter seem to carry a life-long disadvantage in a lower level of cognitive performance; however, being born in winter does not seem to affect the rate of cognitive decline.

• MeSH
• kognitivní dysfunkce psychologie   MeSH
• kognitivní stárnutí fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• longitudinální studie MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• roční období * MeSH
• zdravotnické přehledy MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH