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An exploratory analysis of the relationship between social interactions, income and health in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Damiano Fiorillo

    (University of Naples Parthenope, Department of Economic Studies)

  • Fabio Sabatini

    (Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Economics and Law, and Euricse, Trento)

Abstract

This paper carries out an exploratory investigation into the effect of various types of social interaction on health in Italy. After controlling for household income, education, work status and a number of socio-demographic variables, we find that the frequency of meetings with friends is significantly and positively associated with self-perceived health. The frequency of visits with relatives has a significant, but weaker effect. Membership in voluntary organizations is a significant and weakly negative predictor of good health. Other relevant explanatory variables are education and work status.

Suggested Citation

  • Damiano Fiorillo & Fabio Sabatini, 2011. "An exploratory analysis of the relationship between social interactions, income and health in Italy," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 31(2), pages 1336-1352.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-10-00723
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fiorillo, Damiano, 2013. "Friends and health of the workers in Italy," MPRA Paper 44270, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Sabatini, Fabio, 2014. "The relationship between happiness and health: Evidence from Italy," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 178-187.
    3. Eiji Yamamura, 2011. "Differences in the effect of social capital on health status between workers and non-workers," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 58(4), pages 385-400, December.
    4. Damiano Fiorillo & Nunzia Nappo, 2014. "Job satisfaction in Italy: individual characteristics and social relations," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 41(8), pages 683-704, August.
    5. Damiano Fiorillo, 2016. "Workers’ health and social relations in Italy," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 43(5), pages 835-862, October.
    6. Elisabetta Santarelli & Anna De Pascale, "undated". "Economic, housing conditions and health of old people in Italy: evidence from EU-SILC," Working Papers 99/12, Sapienza University of Rome, Metodi e Modelli per l'Economia, il Territorio e la Finanza MEMOTEF.
    7. Tindara Addabbo & Elena Sarti & Dario Sciulli, 2016. "Healthy life, social interaction and disability," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 50(6), pages 2609-2623, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Statistical matching; well-being; social interactions; social capital; health; Italy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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