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Absolute and Relative Socioeconomic Health Inequalities across Age Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Sander K R van Zon
  • Ute Bültmann
  • Carlos F Mendes de Leon
  • Sijmen A Reijneveld

Abstract

Background: The magnitude of socioeconomic health inequalities differs across age groups. It is less clear whether socioeconomic health inequalities differ across age groups by other factors that are known to affect the relation between socioeconomic position and health, like the indicator of socioeconomic position, the health outcome, gender, and as to whether socioeconomic health inequalities are measured in absolute or in relative terms. The aim is to investigate whether absolute and relative socioeconomic health inequalities differ across age groups by indicator of socioeconomic position, health outcome and gender. Methods: The study sample was derived from the baseline measurement of the LifeLines Cohort Study and consisted of 95,432 participants. Socioeconomic position was measured as educational level and household income. Physical and mental health were measured with the RAND-36. Age concerned eleven 5-years age groups. Absolute inequalities were examined by comparing means. Relative inequalities were examined by comparing Gini-coefficients. Analyses were performed for both health outcomes by both educational level and household income. Analyses were performed for all age groups, and stratified by gender. Results: Absolute and relative socioeconomic health inequalities differed across age groups by indicator of socioeconomic position, health outcome, and gender. Absolute inequalities were most pronounced for mental health by household income. They were larger in younger than older age groups. Relative inequalities were most pronounced for physical health by educational level. Gini-coefficients were largest in young age groups and smallest in older age groups. Conclusions: Absolute and relative socioeconomic health inequalities differed cross-sectionally across age groups by indicator of socioeconomic position, health outcome and gender. Researchers should critically consider the implications of choosing a specific age group, in addition to the indicator of socioeconomic position and health outcome, as findings on socioeconomic health inequalities may differ between them.

Suggested Citation

  • Sander K R van Zon & Ute Bültmann & Carlos F Mendes de Leon & Sijmen A Reijneveld, 2015. "Absolute and Relative Socioeconomic Health Inequalities across Age Groups," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0145947
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145947
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mackenbach, Johan P. & Kunst, Anton E., 1997. "Measuring the magnitude of socio-economic inequalities in health: An overview of available measures illustrated with two examples from Europe," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 44(6), pages 757-771, March.
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    4. Scott Lynch, 2003. "Cohort and life-course patterns in the relationship between education and health: A hierarchical approach," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 40(2), pages 309-331, May.
    5. Aluísio J D Barros & Cesar G Victora, 2013. "Measuring Coverage in MNCH: Determining and Interpreting Inequalities in Coverage of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Interventions," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-9, May.
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    2. Apolinaras Zaborskis & Monika Grincaite, 2018. "Gender and Age Differences in Social Inequality on Adolescent Life Satisfaction: A Comparative Analysis of Health Behaviour Data from 41 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, June.

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