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The determinants of self-rated health in the Republic of Ireland : further evidence and future directions

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  • Liam Delaney
  • Colm Harmon
  • Cecily Kelleher
  • Caroline Kenny

Abstract

This paper examines the determinants of self-rated health in the Republic of Ireland using data from the 2001 Quarterly National Household Survey Health Module and the 2005 ESRI Time Usage Survey. Results indicate that self-rated health is a useful proxy for self-reported chronic illness indices. Higher education, having private medical insurance cover and being married is associated with better self-rated health. The strong inverse relationship between age and self-rated health is found to be robust to the inclusion of self-reported morbidity. Caregivers display lower self-rated health, even after controlling for age, marital status and education. We find only minor effects of gender. Understanding further the causal nature of the above associations is a key issue for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Liam Delaney & Colm Harmon & Cecily Kelleher & Caroline Kenny, 2008. "The determinants of self-rated health in the Republic of Ireland : further evidence and future directions," Working Papers 200811, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
  • Handle: RePEc:ucn:wpaper:200811
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/967
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ferrie, Jane E. & Shipley, Martin J. & Newman, Katherine & Stansfeld, Stephen A. & Marmot, Michael, 2005. "Self-reported job insecurity and health in the Whitehall II study: potential explanations of the relationship," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(7), pages 1593-1602, April.
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    4. von dem Knesebeck, Olaf & Verde, Pablo E. & Dragano, Nico, 2006. "Education and health in 22 European countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(5), pages 1344-1351, September.
    5. Liam Delaney & Pat Wall & Fearghal O'hAodha, 2007. "Social Capital & Self-Rated Health in the Republic of Ireland. Evidence from the European Social Survey," Working Papers 200707, Geary Institute, University College Dublin.
    6. Kelleher, C. C. & Friel, S. & Nic Gabhainn, S. & Tay, Joseph B., 2003. "Socio-demographic predictors of self-rated health in the Republic of Ireland: findings from the National Survey on Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition, SLAN," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 477-486, August.
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    Keywords

    Health surveys--Ireland; Health behavior--Ireland; Health status indicators--Ireland;
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