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Developing a Socioeconomic Status Index for Chronic Disease Prevention Research in Canada

Author

Listed:
  • Elham Khodayari Moez

    (School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 ECHA, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Katerina Maximova

    (MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, 209 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada
    Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St Room 500, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada)

  • Shannon Sim

    (School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 ECHA, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan

    (School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 ECHA, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

  • Roman Pabayo

    (School of Public Health, University of Alberta, 3-300 ECHA, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada)

Abstract

Capturing socioeconomic inequalities in relation to chronic disease is challenging since socioeconomic status (SES) encompasses many aspects. We constructed a comprehensive individual-level SES index based on a broad set of social and demographic indicators (gender, education, income adequacy, occupational prestige, employment status) and examined its relationship with smoking, a leading chronic disease risk factor. Analyses were based on baseline data from 17,371 participants of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP), a prospective cohort of adults aged 35–69 years with no prior personal history of cancer. To construct the SES index, we used principal component analysis (PCA) and to illustrate its utility, we examined the association with smoking intensity and smoking history using multiple regression models, adjusted for age and gender. Two components were retained from PCA, which explained 61% of the variation. The SES index was best aligned with educational attainment and occupational prestige, and to a lesser extent, with income adequacy. In the multiple regression analysis, the SES index was negatively associated with smoking intensity ( p < 0.001). Study findings highlight the potential of using individual-level SES indices constructed from a broad set of social and demographic indicators in epidemiological research.

Suggested Citation

  • Elham Khodayari Moez & Katerina Maximova & Shannon Sim & Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan & Roman Pabayo, 2022. "Developing a Socioeconomic Status Index for Chronic Disease Prevention Research in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7800-:d:847685
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barbeau, E.M. & Krieger, N. & Soobader, M.-J., 2004. "Working Class Matters: Socioeconomic Disadvantage, Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Smoking in NHIS 2000," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(2), pages 269-278.
    2. Hastert, Theresa A. & Ruterbusch, Julie J. & Beresford, Shirley A.A. & Sheppard, Lianne & White, Emily, 2016. "Contribution of health behaviors to the association between area-level socioeconomic status and cancer mortality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 52-58.
    3. Carlos de Mestral & Pedro Marques-Vidal & Jean-Michel Gaspoz & Jean-Marc Theler & Idris Guessous, 2017. "Independent association between socioeconomic indicators and macro- and micro-nutrient intake in Switzerland," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, April.
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