Social class differences in physical functions in middle-aged men and women

Åse Marie Hansen; Lars Louis Andersen; Jørgen Skotte; Ulla Christensen; Ole Steen Mortensen; Drude Molbo; Rikke Lund; Charlotte Juul Nilsson; Kirsten Avlund

doi:10.1177/0898264313508188

Social class differences in physical functions in middle-aged men and women

Åse Marie Hansen, Lars Louis Andersen, Jørgen Skotte, Ulla Christensen, Ole Steen Mortensen, Drude Molbo, Rikke Lund, Charlotte Juul Nilsson, Kirsten Avlund

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the present study is to analyze gender differences and social class gradients in physical functions; and to study whether the social class gradients in physical functions in midlife differed between men and women. Method: This study used traditionally used physical performance tests and we added several tests of vigorous physical functioning (trunk muscle strength and power and sagittal flexibility). We measured reaction time, one-legged balance, sagittal flexibility, jump height, chair rise ability, trunk muscle- and handgrip strength in 5,412 participants aged 50 to 60 years (68.5% men). Results: We found gender differences and social class gradients for all physical performance tests. We did not find an interaction between social class and gender, indicating that the social gradient in physical functions did not differ between men and women. Discussion: Including measures of vigorous physical functioning may add to the existing knowledge on development of functional limitation and poorer functional health later in life.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of Aging and Health
Volume	26
Issue number	1
Pages (from-to)	88-105
Number of pages	18
ISSN	0898-2643
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264313508188
Publication status	Published - Feb 2014

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abstract = "Objective: The objective of the present study is to analyze gender differences and social class gradients in physical functions; and to study whether the social class gradients in physical functions in midlife differed between men and women. Method: This study used traditionally used physical performance tests and we added several tests of vigorous physical functioning (trunk muscle strength and power and sagittal flexibility). We measured reaction time, one-legged balance, sagittal flexibility, jump height, chair rise ability, trunk muscle- and handgrip strength in 5,412 participants aged 50 to 60 years (68.5% men). Results: We found gender differences and social class gradients for all physical performance tests. We did not find an interaction between social class and gender, indicating that the social gradient in physical functions did not differ between men and women. Discussion: Including measures of vigorous physical functioning may add to the existing knowledge on development of functional limitation and poorer functional health later in life.",

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T1 - Social class differences in physical functions in middle-aged men and women

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

AU - Andersen, Lars Louis

AU - Skotte, Jørgen

AU - Christensen, Ulla

AU - Mortensen, Ole Steen

AU - Molbo, Drude

AU - Lund, Rikke

AU - Nilsson, Charlotte Juul

AU - Avlund, Kirsten

PY - 2014/2

Y1 - 2014/2

N2 - Objective: The objective of the present study is to analyze gender differences and social class gradients in physical functions; and to study whether the social class gradients in physical functions in midlife differed between men and women. Method: This study used traditionally used physical performance tests and we added several tests of vigorous physical functioning (trunk muscle strength and power and sagittal flexibility). We measured reaction time, one-legged balance, sagittal flexibility, jump height, chair rise ability, trunk muscle- and handgrip strength in 5,412 participants aged 50 to 60 years (68.5% men). Results: We found gender differences and social class gradients for all physical performance tests. We did not find an interaction between social class and gender, indicating that the social gradient in physical functions did not differ between men and women. Discussion: Including measures of vigorous physical functioning may add to the existing knowledge on development of functional limitation and poorer functional health later in life.

AB - Objective: The objective of the present study is to analyze gender differences and social class gradients in physical functions; and to study whether the social class gradients in physical functions in midlife differed between men and women. Method: This study used traditionally used physical performance tests and we added several tests of vigorous physical functioning (trunk muscle strength and power and sagittal flexibility). We measured reaction time, one-legged balance, sagittal flexibility, jump height, chair rise ability, trunk muscle- and handgrip strength in 5,412 participants aged 50 to 60 years (68.5% men). Results: We found gender differences and social class gradients for all physical performance tests. We did not find an interaction between social class and gender, indicating that the social gradient in physical functions did not differ between men and women. Discussion: Including measures of vigorous physical functioning may add to the existing knowledge on development of functional limitation and poorer functional health later in life.

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DO - 10.1177/0898264313508188

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Social class differences in physical functions in middle-aged men and women

Abstract

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