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Socio-economic determinants of health behaviours across age groups: results of a cross-sectional survey

Sozio-ökonomische Determinanten des Gesundheitsverhaltens in verschiedenen Altersgruppen. Ergebnisse einer Querschnittserhebung

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Summary

Background

The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of different socio-economic variables on the lifestyle factors, like lack of physical activity, diet rich in meat, and smoking, across sex and age groups in the general Austrian population to formulate more targeted public health measures.

Methods

The Austrian Health Interview Survey 2006–07 contains data of 15,474 people, representative for the general population. Statistical analyses included linear and logistic regression models.

Results

Lack of physical activity was more prevalent in women, while unhealthy nutrition and daily smoking were more prevalent in men. Overall, profession was the strongest predictor for health behaviour in men, while the educational level played the most significant role in women. Subjects in higher age groups had a more healthy nutrition and were less likely to smoke, but had a higher chance for lack of physical activity.

Discussion

Socio-economic factors predict lifestyle choices differently in different age groups. For example, in men, the highest percentage of daily smokers was found in the middle age, while the youngest age group was the one that smoked the most in women. Furthermore, the educational level had a reverse effect on women in the oldest age group, where those with tertiary education smoked three times more than those with less education. Our results emphasise the importance of taking a holistic approach towards health, including educational, cultural and age-specific policies to improve the overall health status and health equality of a population.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss verschiedener sozio-ökonomischer Determinanten auf die Lebensstilfaktoren ‚fehlende körperliche Bewegung‘, ‚fleisch-reiche Ernährung‘, und ‚Rauchen‘ nach Geschlecht und in verschiedenen Altersgruppen zu analysieren, um gezieltere Public Health Maßnahmen zu formulieren.

Methoden

Der Austrian Health Interview Survey 2006–07 beinhaltet Daten von 15.474 Personen, und ist für die österreichische Bevölkerung repräsentativ. Statistische Auswertungen beinhalteten lineare und logistische Regressionsanalysen.

Ergebnisse

Frauen wiesen öfter mangelnde körperliche Bewegung auf, während bei Männern eine ungesunde Ernährung und Rauchen häufiger vorkamen. Der Beruf war der stärkte Prädiktor bei Männern, während bei Frauen die Bildung den größten Einfluss hatte. Personen in den höheren Altersgruppen hatten eine gesündere Ernährung und rauchten weniger, hatten aber auch eine größere Wahrscheinlichkeit für fehlende körperliche Bewegung.

Diskussion

Sozio-ökonomische Determinanten haben unterschiedliche Auswirkungen auf Lebensstilfragen in unterschiedlichen Altersgruppen. Zum Beispiel fanden sich die meisten täglichen Raucher bei Männern in der mittleren Altersgruppe, während es bei den Frauen die jüngste Altersgruppe war, die am meisten rauchte. Außerdem hat Bildung einen umgekehrten Effekt bei Frauen, wo solche mit tertiärer Bildung dreimal mehr rauchten als jene mit weniger Bildung. Unsere Ergebnisse betonen, wie wichtig es ist, einen ganzheitlichen Zugang zu Gesundheit zu haben, welcher bildungspolitische, kulturelle und altersspezifische Maßnahmen umfasst, um einen einheitlichen und gerechten Gesundheitszustand in der Bevölkerung zu erreichen.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Medicine, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    T. E. Dorner MD, MPH &  K. Viktoria Stein PhD

  2. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Universitätsstrasse 6/I, 8010, Graz, Austria

    W. J. Stronegger PhD

  3. Division of General and Family Medicine, Center for Public Health Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    K. Hoffmann MD, MPH & T. Niederkrotenthaler MD, PhD

Authors
  1. T. E. Dorner MD, MPH
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  2. W. J. Stronegger PhD
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  3. K. Hoffmann MD, MPH
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  4. K. Viktoria Stein PhD
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  5. T. Niederkrotenthaler MD, PhD
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Correspondence to K. Viktoria Stein PhD.

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Dorner, T., Stronegger, W., Hoffmann, K. et al. Socio-economic determinants of health behaviours across age groups: results of a cross-sectional survey. Wien Klin Wochenschr 125, 261–269 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0360-0

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