Is There an Association Between Childhood Conditions and Exclusion from Social Relations in Later Life?

Abstract

This study aims to explore the effects of childhood circumstances and conditions on the risk of exclusion from social relations in old age, using a life-course perspective and examining gender influence. Secondary analysis of SHARE. Weak and inconsistent consequences of the primary socialization context were found, however, in many cases, the expected effect is missing or contradictory. No impacts on the structure of the family of origin were found. For men, we often found a small, but significant effect of physical aspects of childhood living. For women, the cultural capital of family of origin and the quality of relations with parents seem to have a greater effect. Findings suggest that life-long resilience factors play an important role in the process of counterbalancing childhood living conditions. Early socialization consequences will not necessarily lead to ESR at old age.