Skip to main content
. 2011 Mar 17;26(6):475–483. doi: 10.1007/s10654-011-9562-9

Table 1.

Distribution of physical performance measures by indicators of socioeconomic position in the NSHD

Balance time (seconds) Chair rises time (seconds) Grip strength (kg), men Grip strength (kg), women
N Mean (SD)c N Mean (SD)c N Mean (SD)a N Mean (SD)a
Men 1374 5.6 (4.7) 1357 19.6 (9.3) 1406 47.9 (12.1)
Women 1410 4.5 (3.6) 1400 21.2 (11.5) 1444 27.4 (7.7)
Socioeconomic position
Father’s occupation
 I and II 603 5.8 (4.8) 612 19.7 (7.8) 306 48.6 (12.5) 310 27.9 (8.0)
 III Non manual 490 5.5 (4.6) 491 20.3 (8.7) 240 47.2 (11.6) 256 28.3 (7.7)
 III Manual 768 4.8 (3.9) 755 20.4 (10.4) 394 48.5 (12.4) 407 26.9 (7.6)
 IV and V 689 4.5 (3.5) 670 21.2 (11.7) 355 46.7 (11.7) 345 27.7 (7.6)
  Overall test for associationb < 0.001 = 0.009 = 0.237 = 0.257
Mother’s education
 Secondary and further education or higher 296 6.3 (5.3) 300 19.5 (7.8) 149 48.0 (12.9) 153 27.4 (8.7)
 Secondary only or primary and further education or higher 290 6.5 (5.6) 288 19.3 (9.9) 157 47.7 (12.0) 140 27.8 (6.9)
 Primary and further education (no qualifications attained) 366 5.3 (4.5) 363 19.9 (9.8) 193 48.7 (13.6) 181 27.4 (7.2)
 Primary only 1521 4.6 (3.5) 1501 21.0 (10.9) 754 47.9 (11.7) 814 27.3 (7.8)
  Overall test for associationb P < 0.001 = 0.005 P = 0.746 = 0.883
Education at 26 years
 University degree and eq. 268 6.9 (6.3) 268 18.7 (6.7) 200 47.0 (13.8) 70 27.6 (8.0)
 Adv. Secondary 687 5.9 (4.8) 696 19.7 (8.4) 374 49.3 (12.0) 317 29.0 (7.4)
 Ordinary secondary 658 4.9 (3.8) 651 21.0 (11.5) 257 47.8 (11.5) 412 27.7 (7.8)
 No qualifications 1022 4.2 (3.1) 992 21.3 (11.0) 499 47.4 (11.8) 563 26.7 (7.6)
  Overall test for associationb P < 0.001 < 0.001 P = 0.267 P = 0.032
Adult occupation
 I and II 1207 5.6 (4.6) 1195 20.0 (9.4) 531 48.7 (12.2) 692 28.4 (7.7)
 III Non manual 638 5.1 (4.1) 635 20.1 (9.2) 436 48.5 (11.9) 212 27.1 (6.6)
 III Manual 483 4.4 (3.3) 478 20.3 (11.0) 183 48.6 (11.5) 320 26.4 (7.9)
 IV and V 443 4.3 (3.5) 432 21.8 (11.9) 245 46.0 (11.8) 212 27.1 (7.8)
  Overall test for associationb P < 0.001 P = 0.687 = 0.092 P = 0.167

a Mean and SD is weighted for study design. b Wald test adjusted for height and gender, and study design. c Geometric mean