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Analysing changes of health inequalities in the Nordic welfare states

Author

Listed:
  • Lahelma, Eero
  • Kivelä, Katariina
  • Roos, Eva
  • Tuominen, Terhi
  • Dahl, Espen
  • Diderichsen, Finn
  • Elstad, Jon Ivar
  • Lissau, Inge
  • Lundberg, Olle
  • Rahkonen, Ossi
  • Rasmussen, Niels Kristian
  • Yngwe, Monica Åberg

Abstract

This study examined changes over time in relative health inequalities among men and women in four Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. A serious economic recession burst out in the early 1990s particularly in Finland and Sweden. We ask whether this adverse social structural development influenced health inequalities by employment status and educational attainment, i.e. whether the trends in health inequalities were similar or dissimilar between the Nordic countries. The data derived from comparable interview surveys carried out in 1986/87 and 1994/95 in the four countries. Limiting long-standing illness and perceived health were analysed by age, gender, employment status and educational attainment. First, age-adjusted overall prevalence percentages were calculated. Second, changes in the magnitude of relative health inequalities were studied using logistic regression analysis. Within each country the prevalence of ill-health remained at a similar level, with Finns having the poorest health. Analysing all countries together health inequalities by employment status and education showed no major changes. There were slightly different tendencies among men and women in inequalities by both health indicators, although these did not reach statistical significance. Among men there was a suggestion of narrowing health inequalities, whereas among women such a suggestion could not be discerned. Looking at particular countries some small changes in men's as well as women's health inequalities could be found. Over a period of deep economic recession and a large increase in unemployment, particularly in Finland and Sweden, health inequalities by employment status and education remained broadly unchanged in all Nordic countries. Thus, during this fairly short period health inequalities in these countries were not strongly influenced by changes in other structural inequalities, in particular labour market inequalities. Institutional arrangements in the Nordic welfare states, including social benefits and services, were cut during the recession but nevertheless broadly remained, and are likely to have buffered against the structural pressures towards widening health inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Lahelma, Eero & Kivelä, Katariina & Roos, Eva & Tuominen, Terhi & Dahl, Espen & Diderichsen, Finn & Elstad, Jon Ivar & Lissau, Inge & Lundberg, Olle & Rahkonen, Ossi & Rasmussen, Niels Kristian & Yngw, 2002. "Analysing changes of health inequalities in the Nordic welfare states," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 609-625, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:55:y:2002:i:4:p:609-625
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sanna Tiikkaja & Sven Sandin & Ninoa Malki & Bitte Modin & Pär Sparén & Christina M Hultman, 2013. "Social Class, Social Mobility and Risk of Psychiatric Disorder - A Population-Based Longitudinal Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-1, November.
    2. Aittomäki, Akseli & Martikainen, Pekka & Rahkonen, Ossi & Lahelma, Eero, 2014. "Household income and health problems during a period of labour-market change and widening income inequalities – A study among the Finnish population between 1987 and 2007," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 84-92.
    3. Olsen, Karen M. & Dahl, Svenn-Åge, 2007. "Health differences between European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(8), pages 1665-1678, April.
    4. Hjorthen, Sofie L. & Sund, Erik R. & Skalická, Věra & Eikemo, Terje Andreas & Getz, Linn Okkenhaug & Krokstad, Steinar, 2022. "Trends in absolute and relative educational inequalities in health during times of labour market restructuring in coastal areas: The HUNT Study, Norway," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    5. Petrie, Dennis & Allanson, Paul & Gerdtham, Ulf-G., 2011. "Accounting for the dead in the longitudinal analysis of income-related health inequalities," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 1113-1123.
    6. Huijts, Tim & Eikemo, Terje Andreas & Skalická, Vera, 2010. "Income-related health inequalities in the Nordic countries: Examining the role of education, occupational class, and age," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(11), pages 1964-1972, December.
    7. Lars Kroll & Thomas Lampert, 2011. "Changing health inequalities in Germany from 1994 to 2008 between employed and unemployed adults," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(3), pages 329-339, June.
    8. Karin Hederos & Markus Jäntti & Lena Lindahl & Jenny Torssander, 2018. "Trends in Life Expectancy by Income and the Role of Specific Causes of Death," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 85(339), pages 606-625, July.
    9. Roos, Eva & Burström, Bo & Saastamoinen, Peppiina & Lahelma, Eero, 2005. "A comparative study of the patterning of women's health by family status and employment status in Finland and Sweden," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(11), pages 2443-2451, June.
    10. Yngwe, Monica Åberg & Fritzell, Johan & Burström, Bo & Lundberg, Olle, 2005. "Comparison or consumption? Distinguishing between different effects of income on health in Nordic welfare states," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(3), pages 627-635, August.

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