Factors Affecting Change Over Time in Self-reported Health

Abstract

Background: Self-reported health status has become a conventional measure of health status at the population level. Further, the literature supports its use as a valid indicator of morbidity and mortality. However, relatively little attention has been paid to how selfreported health status changes over time or the factors affecting change. This paper explores the factors affecting health status change over time using data from a neighbourhood health survey. Methods: Two rounds (2001; 2003) of health survey data (n=671) were collected across 4 distinct neighbourhoods in Hamilton, Ontario. Logistic regression analysis is used to predict change in self-reported health status between the two time periods as well as determinants of change using a range of compositional, contextual and collective characteristics of individuals as potential explanatory variables. Results: Results reveal that approximately one third of participants experienced a change in health status between the two survey years. Interestingly, the key factors affecting change in health status are compositional characteristics of individuals (e.g., smoking, health care use) as opposed to contextual (e.g., neighbourhood of residence) or collective (e.g., marital status). Contrary to published literature, the current study does not reveal any significant links between a change in health status and either gender or age. Conclusion: These results inform our understanding of both the stability of health ratings over time and the determinants of health status change. Further research should be undertaken to enhance this understanding; in particular, studies with larger sample sizes, longer time frames and more sensitive indicators of composition, context and collective are needed. MeSH terms: Health status; health determinants; change in health status, neighbourhoods La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

Sex/Gender Differences in the Association between Residential Green Space and Self-Rated Health—A Sex/Gender-Focused Systematic Review

“…Thus, only associations between green space and self-rated health at one point in time could be studied. Besides temporal changes of gender roles and sex/gender impacts, especially the self-rated health status could change over time and be influenced by far-reaching experiences such as a divorce or job loss or a change in lifestyle behavior such as quitting smoking or use of health care [52].…”

<p>Self-Reported General and Oral Health in Adults in the United States: NHANES 1999-2014</p>

“…Our findings are consistent with some previous studies, 4 but in sharp contrast to that reported by Wilson et al who reported that there was no significant association between changes in self-reported health status and age or gender. 15 Measures of inequality (absolute inequality (AI) and relative inequality (RI)) were implored in our study. We found a slight increase in both AI and RI between the periods 1999-2000 and 2013-2014 for SRGH; except for gender.…”

Neighborhood racial composition and trajectories of child self-rated health: An application of longitudinal propensity scores

“…Based on previous studies of child self-rated health and theoretical rationale, child and household socio-demographic characteristics and household SES covariates were used as controls in the analysis (Cagney et al, 2005; Waters et al, 2000; Wilson et al, 2007; {Reference Removed for Review}). Socio-demographic characteristics included child race, child sex, parental health (good health vs. poor health), maternal marital status (married vs. unmarried), insurance status and a cumulative measure of the number of residential moves a child made.…”

“…Despite the widespread use of self-rated health measures, little attention has been paid to how SRH changes over time or how neighborhood racial context impacts change in SRH – particularly for children and adolescents (Cagney et al, 2005; Godley et al, 2010; Power et al, 1998; Wilson et al, 2007). An overwhelming majority of research in this area has examined self-rated health in older populations or populations going through life changes (e.g., menopause), resulting in a large gap in the literature regarding children and adolescents (Browning et al, 2003; Cagney et al, 2005; Godley et al, 2010; Wilson et al, 2007).…”

“…An overwhelming majority of research in this area has examined self-rated health in older populations or populations going through life changes (e.g., menopause), resulting in a large gap in the literature regarding children and adolescents (Browning et al, 2003; Cagney et al, 2005; Godley et al, 2010; Wilson et al, 2007). To our knowledge, only one study has examined the role neighborhood plays in adolescent SRH (Abada et al, 2007), while no research has been conducted in younger populations.…”