Browsing by Subject "logistinen regression"

Self-rated health (SRH) is a frequently used survey indicator of general health. It is periodically utilised in the study of educational health disparities. Several researchers have, however, suggested that systematic population sub group differences in health self-ratings (reporting heterogeneity) may results in SRH reflecting a different health status, or aspects of health, for different educational groups. Previous studies imply that the associations between SRH and other indicators of health may be strengthened by higher education. However, the studies disagree on the strength and the scope of the interaction effect. Comparability is also an issue due to, for example, the variation in the selected health indicators by which SRH is assessed. No such studies have so far been conducted in Norther Europe. The purpose of this Master’s thesis is to address educational SRH reporting heterogeneity. Using quantitative methods, this thesis analyses which aspects of health are included in dichotomised poor or very poor SRH ratings, and whether education moderates the relationship between SRH and the indicators of health. The selected health indicators represent five health dimensions identified in previous studies: clinical health, functional health, health behaviours, mental health and bodily symptoms and experiences. The analyses are conducted using logistic regression and regression –based nonlinear decomposition methods. The study utilises the Health 2000 data (n= 5586) for the household and institution dwelling population over the age of 30 residing in mainland Finland. The data is nationally representative and consists of a clinical- and mental health examination, and survey sections. Overall, a high volume of somatic complaints was found strongly associated with poor self-rated health for all educational groups. Other significant contributors were functional health, diagnosed mental health conditions, and to some extent diagnosed diseases. An educational interaction effect was found for cardiovascular disease, subjective functional limitations in everyday tasks, and high volume of somatic complaints. In all cases education strengthened the association. However, for the majority of the indicators, SRH was associated with, no interaction effect was found. Compared to those respondents with a higher education, those with lower educational attainments more often reported poor SRH, but the selected health indicators and demographic variables explained virtually the whole difference. The study then, to some extent, concurs with earlier findings of higher education strengthening some of the associating between poor SRH and other indicators of health. However, the effect was statistically significant only when comparing basic education to higher educational attainments, and it was less systematic than some of the previous studies have suggested.