Childhood adversity impacting future opportunities.

Bridging the Gap: How Early Life Experiences Shape Adult Health Inequalities

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unpacking the socioeconomic factors impacting long-term well-being, from adolescence to mid-life."

Socioeconomic inequalities in health are a persistent global challenge. While much research focuses on adult populations, understanding the roots of these disparities requires examining the entire life course. This means looking at how social and material conditions during childhood and adolescence impact health outcomes in later life.

A recent study in Sweden tracked individuals from adolescence to mid-life, revealing how socioeconomic status (SES) and various adversities at different life stages contribute to inequalities in functional somatic symptoms (FSS)—a spectrum of bodily complaints not readily explained by organic disorders. These symptoms, including headaches, fatigue, and dizziness, can significantly impact quality of life.

By decomposing the socioeconomic gaps in FSS at ages 16, 21, 30, and 42, the study identified key periods and specific adversities that disproportionately affect individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. This article explores these findings, offering insights into how early interventions can help bridge the gap in health inequalities.

The Uneven Playing Field: Early Adversities and Long-Term Health

Childhood adversity impacting future opportunities.

The Swedish study revealed a widening gap in FSS between socioeconomic groups as individuals progressed from adolescence to mid-life. While the health gap was relatively small and non-significant at age 16, it became more pronounced by age 21 and continued to increase with age. This suggests that early life experiences play a crucial role in shaping long-term health trajectories.

Decomposition analysis highlighted the significant impact of social and material conditions on these health disparities. Specifically, the study found that:

At age 16, parental illness and unemployment were major contributors to the small health gap observed.
At age 21, traditional adversities measured seemed to play less of a role, with gender emerging as a more significant factor. This may reflect the transitional nature of young adulthood, where socioeconomic advantages are not yet fully realized.
By ages 30 and 42, financial strain and exposure to violence became prominent factors, explaining a substantial portion of the health gap. Unemployment was also a key contributor at age 42.

These findings underscore the cumulative effect of adversity. Early disadvantages, such as parental illness and unemployment, can set the stage for later challenges, including financial strain and exposure to violence, ultimately leading to poorer health outcomes.

Investing in a Healthier Future: A Life Course Approach

The Swedish study emphasizes the importance of a life course approach to addressing health inequalities. Interventions that focus solely on adults may be insufficient to overcome the cumulative impact of early adversity. Instead, a comprehensive strategy is needed that targets social and material conditions at all stages of life.

This includes supporting families with parental illness or unemployment, reducing financial strain, and creating safer environments free from violence. By addressing these underlying socioeconomic factors, we can create a more equitable playing field and improve the long-term health outcomes for all individuals.

While the study was conducted in Sweden, the findings have broader implications for understanding and addressing health inequalities worldwide. By recognizing the importance of early life experiences and implementing targeted interventions, we can move towards a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006581, Alternate LINK

Title: Socioeconomic Inequalities In Functional Somatic Symptoms By Social And Material Conditions At Four Life Course Periods In Sweden: A Decomposition Analysis

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: BMJ Open

Publisher: BMJ

Authors: Miguel San Sebastian, Anne Hammarström, Per E Gustafsson

Published: 2015-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

How do early life experiences impact health in later life?

Socioeconomic status (SES) during adolescence and early adulthood significantly influences health outcomes later in life. The study reveals that early adversities like parental illness and unemployment at age 16 contribute to the health gap, which widens over time. This highlights the importance of addressing these early challenges to reduce long-term health inequalities. Interventions targeting these early life experiences can pave the way for a healthier future.

What are Functional Somatic Symptoms, and why are they important in this context?

Functional Somatic Symptoms (FSS) are a spectrum of bodily complaints, such as headaches, fatigue, and dizziness, that are not readily explained by organic disorders. They significantly impact quality of life. The Swedish study used FSS as a measure to understand how socioeconomic inequalities manifest in health. The study tracked how socioeconomic status and various adversities affected the manifestation of FSS at different life stages, linking these symptoms to early life experiences.

What did the decomposition analysis reveal about the health gap?

The Swedish study used a decomposition analysis to understand how the health gap in FSS changed across different age groups. This analysis revealed that at age 16, parental illness and unemployment were major contributors. By age 21, gender became a more significant factor. At ages 30 and 42, financial strain and exposure to violence played a prominent role. The decomposition analysis helps identify key periods and specific adversities that disproportionately affect individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

What is a life course approach to health inequalities?

A life course approach to health inequalities emphasizes that interventions should target social and material conditions across all stages of life. The study showed that early disadvantages, such as parental illness and unemployment, can lead to later challenges, like financial strain and exposure to violence, ultimately impacting health outcomes. This approach advocates for comprehensive strategies addressing these adversities throughout an individual's life, rather than solely focusing on adults.

What socioeconomic factors are most relevant to health disparities?

The socioeconomic factors during adolescence and early adulthood that can predict health disparities later in life include parental illness and unemployment, financial strain, exposure to violence, and gender. These adversities have a cumulative effect, where early disadvantages set the stage for later challenges. By understanding how these factors contribute to health inequalities, it's possible to develop interventions that address these issues at different stages of life to promote a healthier and more equitable future.