Reading roots of resilience
The role of childhood reading environments in closing the educational gap in later-life cognitive functioning
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12440545 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Haosen Sun (0000-0003-2907-0443, University of Nevada, Reno), Yueming Xi (0000-0001-7509-6295, University of Toronto) |
| Editors | Bram Vanhoutte (0000-0002-8032-9214) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Publication date | 2025-07-03 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Journals of Gerontology Series B (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1079-5014 • E-ISSN: 1758-5368 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/geronb/gbaf128 |
| PMID | 40614055 |
| OpenAlex | W4412032269 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 31 |
Objectives While educational achievement is well-established as a key contributor to cognitive reserve and cognitive functioning in later life, the role of early living environments before completing formal education remains underexplored, particularly factors beyond childhood socioeconomic status. This study examines whether childhood reading environments, potentially reflecting a family’s scholarly culture, contribute to cognitive health in older ages. Methods Drawing on life history data from 72,019 individuals aged 60 and above in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we analyze the association between childhood reading environments and later-life cognitive functioning. We also examine whether these early environments mitigate cognitive disparities associated with final educational attainment. Interaction effects between reading environments and early cognitive capabilities (numeracy and literacy) are tested as a robustness check. Results Greater access to books at age 10 is significantly associated with higher cognitive functioning in older age, independent of educational attainment and childhood social economic status. Furthermore, a book-rich environment in childhood partially reduces cognitive disparities associated with lower educational attainment and lower perceived early cognitive capabilities—particularly when compared to peers with medium education and early cognitive capability but limited access to books during childhood. Discussion These findings highlight the enduring benefits of a rich childhood reading environment for cognitive health, particularly for individuals with lower educational attainment or cognitive capabilities. Promoting early access to books with a scholarly culture in childhood may serve as an effective intervention to enhance long-term cognitive resilience
Cognition · Cognitive impairment · Cognitive reserve · Cognitive skill · Developmental psychology · Early childhood · Educational attainment · Effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance · Environmental health · Literacy · Numeracy · Pedagogy · Political science · Population · Psychological resilience · Reading (process · Socioeconomic status · Aging and Gerontology Research · Medicine · Psychology · Technology Use by Older Adults · Social Psychology
The impact of social activities, social networks, social support and social relationships on the cognitive functioning of healthy older adults
Home literacy environments and children's reading performance
Aging and Cumulative Inequality
Whitepaper
What is cognitive reserve? Theory and research application of the reserve concept
Data Resource Profile
Scholarly Culture and Academic Performance in 42 Nations
Socioeconomic Position Across the Life Course and Cognitive Ability Later in Life
Childhood Living Conditions, Socioeconomic Position in Adulthood, and Cognition in Later Life
Childhood Book Availability Helps to Preserve Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Low Education
The Effect of Childhood Socioeconomic Position and Social Mobility on Cognitive Function and Change Among Older Adults
Can We Trust Older People’s Statements on Their Childhood Circumstances? Evidence from SHARELIFE
Life course epidemiology
Cumulative Advantage/Disadvantage and the Life Course
Scholarly culture
| Highly cited | No |
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