Sent by:  [log in to unmask]

 To:       "Population Health Forum"
           <[log in to unmask]>

 cc:       (bcc: Dennis Raphael/Atkinson)



 Subject:



>From Health Services Research:
Is Exposure to Income Inequality a Public Health Concern? Lagged Effects
of Income Inequality on Individual and Population Health

Jennifer M. Mellor, Jeffrey Milyo
Health Services Research; Volume 38, Issue 1p1, Page 137
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/1475-6773.00109

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Inequality as a Public Health Concern: Where Do We Stand?
Commentary on "Is Exposure to Income Inequality a Public Health
Concern?"

S. V. Subramanian, Tony Blakely, Ichiro Kawachi
Health Services Research; Volume 38, Issue 1p1, Page 153
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/1475-6773.00110

AND  a little different---

Sociodemographic determinants of multiple unhealthy behaviours
Mikko Laaksonen A1, Ritva Prttl A1, Eero Lahelma A2
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 31(1): 37-43
A1 National Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health
Promotion, Health Promotion Research Unit, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300
Helsinki, Finland
A2 Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 41, FIN-00014 University of
Helsinki, Finland
Available via
http://taylorandfrancis.metapress.com/link.asp?id=H7V3U63D37W9TTQT

Abstract:
Background: Although behaviours regarded as unhealthy are widespread,
behaving in an unhealthy manner in several respects is relatively
uncommon. However, people with multiple unhealthy behaviours exist and
their number is larger than expected if the behaviours were not related to
each other. The aim of this study was to examine sociodemographic
determinants of multiple unhealthy behaviours, with special reference to
independent and combined effects of the determinants.
Methods: Data on unhealthy behaviours were derived from nationwide surveys
among Finnish adults. The mean number of unhealthy behaviours practised on
a daily basis and the probability of reporting three or four of these
behaviours was examined across sociodemographic groups.
Results: Age, educational level and marital status predicted reporting of
three or four unhealthy behaviours. Interactions were observed between
education and age in both genders as well as between marital status and
age in men and educational level and living area in women. Mean numbers of
unhealthy behaviours showed similar patterns to having three or four
unhealthy behaviours but few differences between the means were
statistically significant and there were no interactions.
Conclusion: The influence of each sociodemographic determinant on multiple
unhealthy behaviours was relatively independent from the other
sociodemographic determinants. As the effect of these determinants tends
to be cumulative, engaging in multiple unhealthy behaviours is common in
population subgroups with several unfavourable characteristics. In health
promotion initiatives special attention should be paid to such population
groups and their social circumstances.

To unsubscribe send one line: unsubscribe click4hp to: [log in to unmask] . To view archives or modify subscription see: http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/click4hp.html