Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway
Introduction: Educational inequality in multiple health behaviors is rarely monitored using data from the same individuals as they age. The aim of this study is to research changes in relative educational inequality in multiple variables related to health behavior (smoking, physical activity, alcoho...
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ftmonashunicris:oai:monash.edu:publications/dd90c319-f6e0-4163-be34-ab810d1812fa 2024-06-23T07:55:33+00:00 Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway Ibarra-Sanchez, Ana Silvia Chen, Gang Wisløff, Torbjørn 2023 application/pdf https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/dd90c319-f6e0-4163-be34-ab810d1812fa https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190087 https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/files/576963457/571232482_oa.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169661978&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Ibarra-Sanchez , A S , Chen , G & Wisløff , T 2023 , ' Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway ' , Frontiers in Public Health , vol. 11 , 1190087 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190087 educational inequality health behavior health guidelines socioeconomic disparities the Tromsø Study article 2023 ftmonashunicris https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190087 2024-06-12T23:52:48Z Introduction: Educational inequality in multiple health behaviors is rarely monitored using data from the same individuals as they age. The aim of this study is to research changes in relative educational inequality in multiple variables related to health behavior (smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, and body mass index), separately and collectively (healthy lifestyle), among middle-aged adults living in Northern Norway. Methods: Data from adult respondents aged 32–87 in 2008 with repeated measurements in 2016 (N = 8,906) were drawn from the sixth and seventh waves of the Tromsø Study. Logistic regression was used to assess the relative educational inequality in the variables related to health behavior. The analyses were performed for the total sample and separately for women and men at both baseline and follow-up. Results: Educational inequality was observed in all the variables related to health behavior at baseline and follow-up, in both men and women. Higher levels of educational attainment were associated with healthier categories (non-daily smoking, physical activity, normal body mass index, and a healthy lifestyle), but also with high alcohol intake. The prevalence of daily smoking and physical inactivity decreased during the surveyed period, while high alcohol intake, having a body mass index outside of the normal range and adhering to multiple health recommendations simultaneously increased. The magnitude of relative educational inequality measured at baseline increased at the follow-up in all the variables related to health behavior. Differences were larger among women when compared to men, except in physical inactivity. Conclusion: Persistent and increasing relative disparities in health behavior between the highest education level and lower education levels are found in countries with well-established and comprehensive welfare systems like Norway. Addressing these inequalities is essential for reducing both the chronic disease burden and educational disparities in health. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Norway Tromsø Monash University Research Portal Norway Tromsø Frontiers in Public Health 11 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Monash University Research Portal |
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ftmonashunicris |
language |
English |
topic |
educational inequality health behavior health guidelines socioeconomic disparities the Tromsø Study |
spellingShingle |
educational inequality health behavior health guidelines socioeconomic disparities the Tromsø Study Ibarra-Sanchez, Ana Silvia Chen, Gang Wisløff, Torbjørn Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway |
topic_facet |
educational inequality health behavior health guidelines socioeconomic disparities the Tromsø Study |
description |
Introduction: Educational inequality in multiple health behaviors is rarely monitored using data from the same individuals as they age. The aim of this study is to research changes in relative educational inequality in multiple variables related to health behavior (smoking, physical activity, alcohol intake, and body mass index), separately and collectively (healthy lifestyle), among middle-aged adults living in Northern Norway. Methods: Data from adult respondents aged 32–87 in 2008 with repeated measurements in 2016 (N = 8,906) were drawn from the sixth and seventh waves of the Tromsø Study. Logistic regression was used to assess the relative educational inequality in the variables related to health behavior. The analyses were performed for the total sample and separately for women and men at both baseline and follow-up. Results: Educational inequality was observed in all the variables related to health behavior at baseline and follow-up, in both men and women. Higher levels of educational attainment were associated with healthier categories (non-daily smoking, physical activity, normal body mass index, and a healthy lifestyle), but also with high alcohol intake. The prevalence of daily smoking and physical inactivity decreased during the surveyed period, while high alcohol intake, having a body mass index outside of the normal range and adhering to multiple health recommendations simultaneously increased. The magnitude of relative educational inequality measured at baseline increased at the follow-up in all the variables related to health behavior. Differences were larger among women when compared to men, except in physical inactivity. Conclusion: Persistent and increasing relative disparities in health behavior between the highest education level and lower education levels are found in countries with well-established and comprehensive welfare systems like Norway. Addressing these inequalities is essential for reducing both the chronic disease burden and educational disparities in health. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ibarra-Sanchez, Ana Silvia Chen, Gang Wisløff, Torbjørn |
author_facet |
Ibarra-Sanchez, Ana Silvia Chen, Gang Wisløff, Torbjørn |
author_sort |
Ibarra-Sanchez, Ana Silvia |
title |
Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway |
title_short |
Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway |
title_full |
Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway |
title_fullStr |
Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway |
title_full_unstemmed |
Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway |
title_sort |
are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? a longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in northern norway |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://research.monash.edu/en/publications/dd90c319-f6e0-4163-be34-ab810d1812fa https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190087 https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/files/576963457/571232482_oa.pdf http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169661978&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
geographic |
Norway Tromsø |
geographic_facet |
Norway Tromsø |
genre |
Northern Norway Tromsø |
genre_facet |
Northern Norway Tromsø |
op_source |
Ibarra-Sanchez , A S , Chen , G & Wisløff , T 2023 , ' Are relative educational inequalities in multiple health behaviors widening? A longitudinal study of middle-aged adults in Northern Norway ' , Frontiers in Public Health , vol. 11 , 1190087 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190087 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1190087 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Public Health |
container_volume |
11 |
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1802648191225561088 |