Abstract
BACKGROUND: Financial stress is an important source of chronic stress and has been associated with cognitive and physical impairments. The goal of this study was to investigate whether financial stress is associated with cognitive and physical impairment and their combination, the role of potential modifiable factors and potential sex differences. METHODS: The Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia population-based cohort study from Finland was used (n = 1497) (baseline data collected 1972-1987, mean age 50 years). Two late-life re-examinations (mean total follow-up 21 years). Midlife financial stress was measured using two questions on financial situation. Cognitive functioning was based on six cognitive domains. Physical impairment was self-reported, including activities of daily living and mobility. Potential mediation factors investigated were smoking, alcohol, physical activity, cohabitant status, non-manual work, and sleep disturbances. Sex differences were investigated. We used path analyses with full information maximum likelihood estimation. RESULTS: Midlife financial stress was associated with worse cognitive functioning, physical impairment and their combination. Smoking and sleep disturbances mediated the associations between financial stress, physical impairment, and combined impairments. For men: Among smokers financial stress was associated with worse cognitive functioning; alcohol interacted with financial stress on combined impairments; cohabitation and non-manual work mediated associations to worse cognitive functioning. Among women, sleep disturbances moderated the association to worse cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Midlife financial stress is associated with late-life impairments, and lifestyle/sociodemographic factors may modify these associations. Sex differences were observed. Interventions promoting healthier lifestyle and psychosocial factors may buffer against the deleterious role of financial stress.