Life Course Assessment of Area-Based Social Disadvantage: A Systematic Review

Sarah A. Keller (), Sarah Lim, William R. Buckingham and Amy J. H. Kind
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Sarah A. Keller: Center for Health Disparities Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
Sarah Lim: Center for Health Disparities Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
William R. Buckingham: Center for Health Disparities Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA
Amy J. H. Kind: Center for Health Disparities Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53726, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 21, 1-10

Abstract: Area-based social disadvantage, which measures the income, employment, and housing quality in one’s community, can impact an individual’s health above person-level factors. A life course approach examines how exposure to disadvantage can affect health in later life. This systematic review aimed to summarize the approaches used to assess exposure to area-based disadvantage over a life course, specifically those that define the length and timing of exposure. We reviewed the abstracts of 831 articles based on the following criteria: (1) whether the abstract described original research; (2) whether the study was longitudinal; (3) whether area-based social disadvantage was an exposure variable; (4) whether area-based social disadvantage was assessed at multiple points; and (5) whether exposure was assessed from childhood to older adulthood. Zero articles met all the above criteria, so we relaxed the fifth criterion in a secondary review. Six studies met our secondary criteria and were eligible for data extraction. The included studies followed subjects from childhood into adulthood, but none assessed disadvantages in late life. The approaches used to assess exposure included creating a cumulative disadvantage score, conducting a comparison between life course periods, and modeling the trajectory of disadvantage over time. Additional research was needed to validate the methodologies described here, specifically in terms of measuring the impact of area-based social disadvantage on health.

Keywords: social disadvantage; neighborhood disadvantage; area disadvantage; life course; longitudinal studies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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