From the June 5, 2007 STATCAN Daily:
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070605/td070605.htm
Study: Lower income and declines in self-rated health
1994/1995 to 1996/1997
Individuals living in households with combined incomes of less than
$20,000 are almost three times more likely to experience a decline in
self-rated health than people with the highest incomes, according to
a new study.
This study, published recently in the International Journal of
Behavioral Medicine, investigated whether income was associated with
a decline in self-rated health, from good or better health to fair or
poor, over a two-year period. It also examined whether stressors, such
as job strain and financial problems, helped explain the relationship.
Using data from Statistic Canada's National Population Health
Survey (NPHS), the study showed that only 4% of Canadians who were
initially healthy in 1994/1995 experienced a decline to fair or poor
health in 1996/1997.
An equal proportion of those in fair or poor health in 1994/1995
experienced an improvement in their health to good or better.
Individuals in the lowest and second lowest income groups had
significantly higher odds of experiencing a decline in health,
compared with those in the highest income group.
The study found that stressors such as job strain, financial
problems and marital problems were more common among lower income
individuals. In turn, stressors in 1994/1995 were related to a higher
likelihood of experiencing a decline in health in 1996/1997.
The study showed that a small but important portion of the
relationship between lower income and a decline in self-rated health
was associated with stressors.
These results suggest that a negative psychosocial environment may
be one mechanism linking lower income and poorer health.
Note: The study population comprised individuals aged 20 and older in
the 1994/1995 NPHS. Household income was used to measure income.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3225.
The study "Do stressors explain the association between income and
declines in self-rated health? A longitudinal analysis of the
National Population Health Survey" was published in the April 2007
edition of the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. It was
prepared by researchers from the School of Psychology at the
University of Ottawa and analysts of the Health Analysis and
Measurement Group at Statistics Canada. An abstract of the article is
available online for free (http://www.leaonline.com/toc/ijbm/14/1) in
English only. The full article is available as well.
For more information, to request a copy of the article, or to
enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release,
contact Heather Orpana (613-951-1650; [log in to unmask]),
Statistics Canada.
NPHS microdata are available at Statistics Canada's Research Data
Centres. For more information, visit The Research Data Centres
Program page of our website.
For more information on the National Population Health Survey, or
to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this
survey, contact Mario Bédard (613-951-8933; [log in to unmask])
or France Bilocq (613-951-6956; [log in to unmask]), Health
Statistics Division.
---posted by --
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Prof Sam Lanfranco, AK/ECON, 2005 TEL Bldg, York University,
4700 Keele St Toronto, Ontario, CANADA - M3J 1P3
Tel: 416-736-2100 ext33235 Fax: 416-736-5188
email: [log in to unmask] - Cell: 416-816-2852
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