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Table 2 Bivariate associations between standardized cognitive score at age 50 and predictive variables over the life-course (linear regression)

From: Is mid-life social participation associated with cognitive function at age 50? Results from the British National Child Development Study (NCDS)

 

Unstandardized B

Standardized β

95% CI (p-value)

t-test

Cognition in childhood

 Standardized score at age 11

Per unit

0.29

0.36

0.27 to 0.30

(<0.0001)

35.0

Social network

Age 33

   

 Has at least 1 friend/ neighbour/colleague could turn to for advice

No / No one mentioned

 

0 (ref)

 

Yes

0.41

0.08

0.30 to 0.51

(<0.0001)

7.70

 Has at least 1 member of family could turn to for advice

No/ No one mentioned

 

0 (ref)

 

Yes

0.46

0.08

0.34 to 0.58

(<0.0001)

7.50

 Number of civic group activities participated in

Per 1 activity +

0.56

0.12

0.45 to 0.65

(<0.0001)

11.00

Age 42

   

 Has somebody could turn to for advice

No

 

0 (ref)

 

Family member

0.60

0.11

0.31 to 0.90

(<0.0001)

4.01

Friend/colleague/neighbour

0.64

0.11

0.33 to 0.95

(<0.0001)

4.03

Age 50

   

Number of civic group activities participated in

Per 1 activity +

0.39

0.13

0.32 to 0.45

(<0.0001)

12.13

Health and Health behaviour

Age 33

   

Self-rated health

Poor

 

0 (ref)

 

Fair

0.23

0.03

–0.28 to 0.75

(0.38)

0.88

Good

0.73

0.15

0.24 to 1.22

(0.004)

2.91

Excellent

0.98

0.20

0.41 to 1.48

(<0.0001)

3.87

Age 42

   

 Mental well-being (Malaise score; 9-item version)

Better (0–3)

 

0 (ref)

 

Worse (4+)

–0.45

–0.06

–0.61 to –0.29

(<0.0001)

–5.41

 Frequency of drinking alcohol

Never

 

0 (ref)

 

Not now/ special occasions

–0.09

–0.1

–0.60 to 0.41

(0.72)

–0.35

Once in a week

0.11

0.02

–0.38 to 0.61

(0.66)

0.44

More often

0.56

0.11

0.07 to 1.06

(0.03)

2.23

 Frequency of smoking

No

 

0 (ref)

 

Used to / occasionally

–0.08

–0.01

–0.20 to 0.04

(0.21)

–1.24

Daily

–0.58

–0.10

–0.71 to –0.44

(<0.0001)

–8.63

 Takes part in sporting activities and how frequently

Not regularly/ less often than once in month

 

0 (ref)

 

2–3 times in month

0.51

0.05

0.28 to 0.74

(<0.0001)

4.46

Once in week

0.52

0.08

0.36 to 0.67

(<0.0001)

6.55

2–3 times in a week

0.58

0.10

0.43 to 0.73

(<0.0001)

7.61

4 times in week/every day

0.40

0.07

0.25 to 0.54

(<0.0001)

5.43

 Socio-economic background

Age 11

   

 Father’s social class

Professional

 

0 (ref)

 

Managerial-technical

–0.40

–0.07

–0.64 to –0.15

(0.002)

–3.17

Skilled non-man

–0.65

–0.08

–0.93 to –0.38

(<0.0001)

–4.68

Skilled manual

–1.15

–0.23

–1.38 to –0.92

(<0.0001)

–9.75

Partly skilled

–1.35

–0.20

–1.60 to –1.09

(<0.0001)

–10.46

Unskilled

–1.66

–0.15

–1.98 to –1.34

(<0.0001)

–10.25

No male head

–1.04

–0.09

–1.37 to –0.71

(<0.0001)

–6.23

 Housing tenure

Owner occupied

 

0 (ref)

 

Council rented

–0.75

–0.15

–0.86 to –0.64

(<0.0001)

–13.12

Private rented

–0.48

–0.05

–0.69 to –0.28

(<0.0001)

–4.60

Rent free

–0.31

–0.03

–0.56 to –0.06

(0.02)

–2.42

Age 42

    

 Own social class

Professional

 

0 (ref)

 

Managerial-technical

–0.51

–0.10

–0.75 to –0.26

(<0.0001)

–4.09

Skilled non-man

–0.96

–0.17

–1.21 to –0.70

(<0.0001)

–7.34

Skilled manual

–1.71

–0.28

–1.97 to –1.45

(<0.0001)

–12.97

Partly skilled

–1.55

–0.21

–1.83 to –1.28

(<0.0001)

–11.04

Unskilled

–2.11

–0.15

–2.50 to –1.71

(<0.0001)

–10.43

Age 50

    

 Highest achieved qualification

None

 

0 (ref)

 

CSE or equivalent

0.41

0.05

0.20 to 0.62

(<0.0001)

3.89

GCSE or equivalent

0.96

0.17

0.78 to 1.14

(<0.0001)

10.56

AS/A level or equivalent

1.37

0.22

1.18 to 1.56

(<0.0001)

14.24

Degree/teaching diploma/vocational NVQ4 diploma

2.07

0.40

1.89 to 2.24

(<0.0001)

23.46

Higher Degree/vocational NVQ5 diploma

2.63

0.22

2.35 to 2.91

(<0.0001)

18.62

Gender

Male

 

0 (ref)

 

Female

0.47

0.10

0.37 to 0.57

(<0.0001)

9.08