Socio-spatial trajectories and health disparities among older adults in Chile

In this study, we examine residential trajectories since birth among older adults in the Santiago Metropolitan Area, Chile, and their association with health outcomes. We linked retrospective residential information for a sample of 802 individuals aged 65–75 in 2019 to context-based information from decennial censuses. Our analysis reveals substantive heterogeneity in individuals' residential trajectories, thus mirroring social and urban changes in Chile's largest city. We found significant associations between residential histories and health outcomes at the time of the interview. Consistent residence in advantaged areas was linked to better health, whereas relocating to the metropolitan area from elsewhere was generally linked to poorer health, except for those moving to emerging middle-class areas. These findings underscore the importance of longitudinal and life course approaches in understanding the complex relationship between place and health.