Social Inequalities in Self-Rated Health by Age
Author Information
Author(s): Emily McFadden, Robert Luben, Sheila Bingham, Nick Wareham, Ann-Louise Kinmonth, Kay-Tee Khaw
Primary Institution: Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, UK
Hypothesis
We investigate the association between occupational social class and self-rated health (SRH) at different ages in men and women.
Conclusion
There is a strong social gradient in self-rated health, with lower ratings associated with manual social classes.
Supporting Evidence
- Lower self-rated health is more prevalent in manual classes compared to non-manual classes.
- The odds of poor or moderate self-rated health are greater in manual classes at all ages.
- Men and women in unskilled occupations are approximately twice as likely to report poor or moderate health compared to professionals.
Takeaway
People's health ratings can be affected by their job type, and those in lower-paying jobs often feel worse about their health, especially as they get older.
Methodology
Cross-sectional population study using logistic regression to examine the relationship between self-rated health and social class.
Potential Biases
Some degree of inaccuracy in reporting or recording information is inevitable, but misclassifications are likely random.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits conclusions on causality and does not account for all potential confounding factors.
Participant Demographics
Men and women aged 39–79 years from the general community in Norfolk, UK.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95%CI 1.69, 3.50
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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