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Income-related health inequalities in the Nordic countries: Examining the role of education, occupational class, and age

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  • Huijts, Tim
  • Eikemo, Terje Andreas
  • Skalická, Vera

Abstract

Numerous studies have concluded that people's socioeconomic position is related to mortality and morbidity, but that the strength of this association varies considerably both within and between European regions. This has spurred several researchers to more closely examine educational and occupational gradients in health in the Nordic countries to clarify the causes of cross-national differences. However, comparable studies using income as an indicator of socioeconomic position are still lacking. This study uses recent and highly comparable data to fill this gap. The aim of this study is threefold. First, we ask to what extent there is an income gradient in health in the Nordic countries, and to what extent the association differs between these countries. Second and third, we examine whether differences in the attenuation of the income gradient by education and occupational class, and age-specific differences between countries, may act as explanations for differences in the income gradient between the Nordic countries. The data source are three waves of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2002/2004/2006), which included 17,801 people aged 25 and over from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Two subjective health measures (physical/mental self reported health and limiting longstanding illness) were analysed by means of logistic regression. The results show that, in all countries, people reported significantly better health and were less likely to suffer from longstanding illness as they had a higher income. This association is strongest in Norway and Finland and weakest in Denmark. The income gradient in health, but not country differences in this gradient, is partly explained by education and occupational class. Additionally, the strength of the income gradient in health varies between age groups. The relatively high health inequalities between income groups in Norway and Finland are already visible in the youngest age groups. The results imply that the socioeconomic gradient in health will arguably not be strongly reduced in the near future as a result of cohort replacement, as has been suggested in previous studies. Health policy interventions may be particularly important five to ten years prior to retirement and in early adulthood.

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  • 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.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:71:y:2010:i:11:p:1964-1972
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    Cited by:

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    2. Linda Enroth & Marijke Veenstra & Marja Aartsen & Agnete Aslaug Kjær & Charlotte Juul Nilsson & Stefan Fors, 2019. "Are there educational disparities in health and functioning among the oldest old? Evidence from the Nordic countries," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 415-424, December.
    3. Angelo d’Errico & Fulvio Ricceri & Silvia Stringhini & Cristian Carmeli & Mika Kivimaki & Mel Bartley & Cathal McCrory & Murielle Bochud & Peter Vollenweider & Rosario Tumino & Marcel Goldberg & Marie, 2017. "Socioeconomic indicators in epidemiologic research: A practical example from the LIFEPATH study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-32, May.
    4. Hiyoshi, Ayako & Fukuda, Yoshiharu & Shipley, Martin J. & Brunner, Eric J., 2014. "Health inequalities in Japan: The role of material, psychosocial, social relational and behavioural factors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 201-209.
    5. Gkiouleka, Anna & Huijts, Tim & Beckfield, Jason & Bambra, Clare, 2018. "Understanding the micro and macro politics of health: Inequalities, intersectionality & institutions - A research agenda," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 92-98.
    6. Jenni Ervasti & Jussi Vahtera & Jaana Pentti & Tuula Oksanen & Kirsi Ahola & Mika Kivimäki & Marianna Virtanen, 2013. "Depression-Related Work Disability: Socioeconomic Inequalities in Onset, Duration and Recurrence," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(11), pages 1-8, November.
    7. Präg, Patrick & Mills, Melinda C. & Wittek, Rafael, 2016. "Subjective socioeconomic status and health in cross-national comparison," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 84-92.

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