Tarun Suresh
Research Mentor: Kimson Johnson
Mentor Department: Survey Research Center, ISR
Author(s): Dr. Kimson Johnson, Tarun Suresh
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 55
Abstract
Background: Educational mobility is an important predictor of cognitive health, yet the influence of intergenerational educational mobility has received limited attention, especially in racially and ethnically diverse populations. This study investigates the relationship between intergenerational educational mobility and cognitive function across racial and ethnic groups. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the RAND Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Longitudinal and Family File (n = 4,171). The analytic sample included adults aged 51 years and older. The primary independent variable, intergenerational educational mobility, was categorized into four groups: upward, stable, downward, and mixed based on the educational attainment of respondents’ parents, respondents, and their children. The dependent variable was episodic memory, assessed using immediate and delayed word recall and scored on a 0–20 scale. Analyses were stratified by race and ethnicity to examine potential group differences. Multivariable linear regression models were estimated using survey weights to account for the complex sampling design. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics, adult health conditions, depressive symptoms, and functional limitations. Results: Preliminary results suggest no statistically significant associations between educational mobility and episodic memory among White participants. However, among Black participants, upward, stable, and mixed mobility were associated with lower episodic memory, while among Hispanic participants, upward and mixed mobility were associated with lower episodic memory. Conclusion: Overall, the relationship between educational mobility and episodic memory differed by race and ethnicity. These findings suggest that public health efforts to support cognitive health in aging populations should consider racial and ethnic differences in how educational experiences shape later-life outcomes.
