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Socioeconomic position, health, and possible explanations: A tale of two cohorts

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Listed:
  • Fuhrer, R.
  • Shipley, M.J.
  • Chastang, J.F.
  • Schmaus, A.
  • Niedhammer, I.
  • Stansfeld, S.A.
  • Goldberg, M.
  • Marmot, M.G.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined whether the social gradient for measures of morbidity is comparable in English and French public employees and investigated risk factors that may explain this gradient. Methods. This longitudinal study of 2 occupational cohorts-5825 London civil servants and 6818 French office-based employees-used 2 health outcomes: long spells of sickness absence during a 4-year follow-up and self-reported health. Results. Strong social gradients in health were observed in both cohorts. Health behaviors showed different relations with socioeconomic position in the 2 samples. Psychosocial work characteristics showed strong gradients in both cohorts, Cohort-specific significant risk factors explained between 12% and 56% of the gradient in sickness absence and self-reported health. Conclusions. Our cross-cultural comparison suggests that some common susceptibility may underlie the social gradient in health and disease, which explains why inequalities occur in cultures with different patterns of morbidity and mortality.

Suggested Citation

  • Fuhrer, R. & Shipley, M.J. & Chastang, J.F. & Schmaus, A. & Niedhammer, I. & Stansfeld, S.A. & Goldberg, M. & Marmot, M.G., 2002. "Socioeconomic position, health, and possible explanations: A tale of two cohorts," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(8), pages 1290-1294.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2002:92:8:1290-1294_2
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Helgertz, Jonas & Persson, Mats R., 2014. "Early life conditions and long-term sickness absence during adulthood – A longitudinal study of 9000 siblings in Sweden," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 224-231.
    2. Gerrit Bauer & Martina Brandt & Thorsten Kneip, 2023. "The Role of Parenthood for Life Satisfaction of Older Women and Men in Europe," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 275-307, January.
    3. Adler, Nancy & Singh-Manoux, Archana & Schwartz, Joseph & Stewart, Judith & Matthews, Karen & Marmot, Michael G., 2008. "Social status and health: A comparison of British civil servants in Whitehall-II with European- and African-Americans in CARDIA," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(5), pages 1034-1045, March.
    4. Babones, Salvatore J., 2008. "Income inequality and population health: Correlation and causality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(7), pages 1614-1626, April.
    5. Kristensen, Petter & Bjerkedal, Tor & Irgens, Lorentz M., 2007. "Early life determinants of musculoskeletal sickness absence in a cohort of Norwegians born in 1967-1976," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 646-655, February.
    6. Niedhammer, Isabelle & Chastang, Jean-François & David, Simone & Kelleher, Cecily, 2008. "The contribution of occupational factors to social inequalities in health: Findings from the national French SUMER survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(11), pages 1870-1881, December.

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