How indicators of socioeconomic status relate to physical functioning of older adults in three Asian societies
Document Type
Article (peer-reviewed)
Publication Date
2004
Abstract
The relationship between socioeconomic status and physical functioning is tested among older adults in Taiwan, Thailand, and the Philippines. Socioeconomic indicators are limited to education and income, and these are linked to several measures of functioning that are constructed using four specific items-having difficulties crouching, climbing stairs, lifting things, and walking. Depending on the outcome measure, samples are treated separately or pooled. Education is found to be associated with functional health in Taiwan but is a weaker predictor in Thailand and the Philippines. Income has strong associations in Taiwan and Thailand and only a moderate association in the Philippines. Interaction effects based on pooled data confirm that differences in associations exist across settings. These results lead to questions about the universality of the relationship. Explanations for differential effects are discussed, including the impact of national levels of development on health outcomes.
DOI
10.1177/0164027503260624
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Zimmer, Zachary, Napaporn Chayovan, Hui-Sheng Lin, and Josefina N. Natividad. 2004. "How indicators of socioeconomic status relate to physical functioning of older adults in three Asian societies," Research on Aging 26(2): 224–258.