These researchers sought to determine which specific factors across life may protect some older-aged individuals from developing functional limitations despite exposure to socioeconomic adversity. The study analysed data from 1,973 participants in the UK Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, followed from birth until age 60–64 years. Functional limitations were defined as reporting difficulty with ≥1 of 16 activities at age 60–64 years. Lifetime socioeconomic adversity was based on socioeconomic trajectories, categorised into 3 adversity levels (low, intermediate and high). Functional limitations in the low, intermediate and high adversity groups affected 23%, 30% and 44% of men, respectively, and 49%, 55% and 61% of women, respectively. A ‘Resilient’ group was identified that consisted of 196 participants, all of whom had a high level of adversity but no functional limitations. Analyses compared psychosocial factors and health-related behaviours between the ‘Resilient’ group and 5 groups with other combinations of adversity and limitations. Compared with the ‘Resilient’ group, people with high adversity/ limitations were more likely to have childhood illness (19% vs 12%) and to be obese between the ages of 43 and 64 years (70% vs 55%). Other factors that were also associated with resilience included higher adolescent self-management, lower neuroticism, engaging in volunteer work and physical activity (age 60–64 years) and not smoking. There was no evidence that marital status and contact frequency were associated with resilience.
