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1.
J Public Health (Oxf) ; 41(2): e133-e140, 2019 06 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30053062

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Loneliness and social inequality in health are important public health concerns. We examined (i) trends in loneliness among adolescents from 1991 to 2014 in Denmark and (ii) trends in social inequality in loneliness. METHODS: Study population: 11-15-year olds in random samples of schools in 1991, 1994, 1998, 2006 and 2014, n = 19 096. Loneliness was measured by a single item and social background by parents' occupational social class (OSC). We calculated absolute (%) differences in loneliness between high and low OSC and relative differences by odds ratio for loneliness. RESULTS: Across all surveys, 6.3% reported feeling lonely. The prevalence increased from 4.4% in 1991 to 7.2% in 2014. The prevalence of loneliness in high, middle and low OSC was 5.8, 5.9 and 8.0%. The increase in loneliness was more pronounced in higher than lower OSC, resulting in a decreasing absolute social inequality in loneliness. The statistical interaction between OSC and survey year was significant, P = 0.0176, i.e. the relative social inequality in loneliness also decreased from 1991 to 2014. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of loneliness increased from 1991 to 2014. The social inequality in loneliness decreased in both absolute and relative terms because of a rising prevalence of loneliness among children from high OSC.


Subject(s)
Loneliness , Socioeconomic Factors , Adolescent , Age Factors , Child , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Loneliness/psychology , Male , Odds Ratio , Prevalence , Psychology, Adolescent/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Sex Factors , Social Class , Surveys and Questionnaires
2.
Eur J Pain ; 22(5): 935-940, 2018 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29349882

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The association between socio-economic status (SES) and headache among adolescents is an understudied issue, and no study has examined whether such an association changes over time. The aim was to examine trends in socio-economic inequality in frequent headache among 11- to 15-year-olds in Denmark from 1991 to 2014, using occupational social class (OSC) as indicator of SES. METHODS: The study applies data from the Danish part of the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. HBSC includes nationally representative samples of 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds. This study combines data from seven data survey years from 1991 to 2014, participation rate 88.6%, n = 31,102. We report absolute inequality as per cent difference in frequent headache between high and low OSC and relative inequality as odds ratio for frequent headache by OSC. RESULTS: In the entire study population, 10.4% reported frequent headache. There was a significant increase in frequent headache from 8.0% in 1991 to 12.9% in 2014, test for trend, p < 0.0001. This increasing trend was significant in all OSCs. The prevalence of frequent headache was significantly higher in low than high OSC, OR = 1.50 (95% CI: 1.34-1.67). This socio-economic inequality in frequent headache was persistent from 1991 to 2014. CONCLUSION: There was a significant and persistent socio-economic inequality, i.e. increasing prevalence of frequent headache with decreasing OSC. The association between socio-economic position and headache did not significantly change over time, i.e. the statistical interaction between OSC and survey year was insignificant. SIGNIFICANCE: The prevalence of frequent headache among adolescents increases with decreasing SES. This socio-economic inequality has been persistent among adolescents in Denmark from 1991 to 2014. Clinicians should be aware of this social inequality.


Subject(s)
Headache/epidemiology , Social Class , Adolescent , Child , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Schools , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires
3.
SSM Popul Health ; 3: 534-538, 2017 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29349244

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate social inequality in physical inactivity among adolescents from 1991 to 2014 and to describe any changes in inequality during this period. The analyses were based on data from the Danish part of the HBSC study, which consists of seven comparable cross-sectional studies of nationally representative samples of 11-15-year old adolescents. The available data consisted of weekly time (hours) spent on vigorous physical activity and parental occupation from 30,974 participants. In summary, 8.0% of the adolescents reported to be physically inactive, i.e. spend zero hours of vigorous leisure time physical activity per week. The proportion of physically inactive adolescents was 5.4% in high social class and 7.8% and 10.8%, respectively, in middle and low social class. The absolute social inequality measured as prevalence difference between low and high social class did not change systematically across the observation period from 1991 to 2014. Compared to high social class, OR (95% CI) for physical inactivity was 1.48 (1.32-1.65) in middle social class and 2.18 (1.92-2.47) in lower social class. This relative social inequality was similar in the seven data collection waves (p=0.971). Although the gap in physical inactivity between social classes does not seem to be widening in Danish adolescents, there are still considerable differences in the activity levels between high, middle and low social class adolescents. Consequently, there is a need for a targeted physical activity intervention among adolescents from low (and middle) social class.

4.
Scand J Med Sci Sports ; 26(10): 1249-55, 2016 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26454139

ABSTRACT

More children from lower social backgrounds are physically inactive than those from higher ones. We studied whether bullying was a mediating factor between lower social background and physical inactivity. We also examined the combined effect of low social class and exposure to bullying on physical inactivity. The Danish sample of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study 2006 included 6269 schoolchildren in three age groups: 11-, 13-, and 15-year-olds from a random sample of 80 schools. The students answered the internationally standardized HBSC questionnaire. The applied definition leaves 4.0% in the category physically inactive. The sex and age-adjusted OR (95% CI) for physical inactivity was 2.10 (1.39-3.18) among students with low social class and unclassifiable 3.53 (2.26-5.53). Exposure to bullying was associated with physical inactivity, sex and age-adjusted OR = 2.39 (1.67-3.41). Exposure to bullying did not explain the association between social class and physical inactivity. The association between social class and physical inactivity was more pronounced among participants also exposed to bullying. In conclusion, there was a significantly increased odds ratio for physical inactivity among students from lower social classes and for students exposed to bullying. There was a combined effect of low social class and bullying on physical inactivity.


Subject(s)
Bullying/statistics & numerical data , Health Behavior , Sedentary Behavior , Social Class , Adolescent , Child , Denmark , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Male
5.
Scand J Med Sci Sports ; 26(8): 927-32, 2016 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26346509

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were (a) to examine the association between various kinds of parental social support and adolescents' physical activity (PA) and (b) to examine whether various kinds of social support from mothers and fathers were differently associated with boys' and girls' PA. Data came from the Aarhus School Survey that included 2100 schoolchildren at 11, 13, and 15 years of age. Parental social support for PA was measured by items about encouragement to do PA, doing joint PA, parents watching PA, and talking about PA. PA was measured as at least 4 h of vigorous PA per week during leisure time. We used logistic regression analyses to estimate the associations for girls and boys separately, adjusted by age group, parents' occupational social class, family structure, and migration status. There were significant and graded associations between adolescents' PA and all four dimensions of parental support for PA. The association patterns were similar for mothers' and fathers' social support and similar for girls and boys. Social processes in the family are important for adolescents' participation in PA. It is important to continue to explore these social processes in order to understand why some adolescents are physically active and others are not.


Subject(s)
Child Rearing , Exercise/psychology , Father-Child Relations , Mother-Child Relations , Adolescent , Child , Family Characteristics , Female , Humans , Male , Sex Factors , Social Class , Social Support , Surveys and Questionnaires
6.
Community Dent Health ; 32(1): 51-5, 2015 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26263593

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Regular tooth brushing in adolescence predicts stable tooth brushing habits later in life. Differences in tooth brushing habits by ethnic background and socioeconomic position have been suggested. We investigated migration status and social class in relation to infrequent tooth brushing both separately and combined. METHODS: The study population was 11-15 year-olds chosen from a clustered random sample of schools. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses estimated the separate and combined effects of migration status and social class on less than twice daily tooth brushing. RESULTS: 10,607 respondents: a response rate of 88.3%. Boys of lower social class had higher odds ratio (OR) of infrequent tooth brushing than girls: 1.98 (95% confidence interval 1.62-2.41) vs 1.80 (1.53-2.24). Immigrants and descendants had higher odds compared to adolescents of Danish origin: immigrant boys OR 1.39 (1.05-1.89), girls OR 1.92 (1.47-2.50); descendant boys OR 2.53 (1.97-3.27), girls OR 2.56 (2.02-3.35). Analyses of the combined effect of social class and migration status showed that the social gradient in tooth brushing habits observed among ethnic Danes cannot be found among groups of immigrants and descendants. CONCLUSION: The study shows that both non-Danish origin and low social class increases the risk of infrequent tooth brushing among school-aged children. The study calls for in depth analyses of the processes which influence young people's tooth brushing habits. Further, there is a need to strengthen the promotion of appropriate tooth brushing habits of minority and low social class youths.


Subject(s)
Emigrants and Immigrants , Social Class , Toothbrushing/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Child , Denmark , Emigrants and Immigrants/classification , Ethnicity/classification , Europe, Eastern/ethnology , Family , Female , Humans , Male , Middle East/ethnology , Occupations , Risk Factors , Sex Factors
7.
Eur J Pain ; 19(1): 77-84, 2015 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24807819

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There is considerable variation in adolescent pain prevalence across epidemiological studies, with limited information on pain-related behaviours among adolescents, including medicine use. The aims of this study were (1) to examine the prevalence of recurrent pain among 15-year-old adolescents internationally; (2) to investigate the association between recurrent pain and medicine use behaviours among boys and girls; and (3) to evaluate the consistency of these associations across countries. METHODS: The World Health Organization (WHO) collaborative international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2009/2010 study collects data about self-reported aches and medicine use from 36,762 15-year-old adolescents from 22 countries/regions in Europe and the United States. Multi-level multivariate logistic regression, stratified by gender, was used to analyse the association between recurrent pain and medicine use for headache, stomachache, nervousness and difficulties in getting to sleep. RESULTS: More than 30% of adolescents reported recurrent headache, almost 30% recurrent backache and approximately 20% recurrent stomachache. Although pain prevalence and medicine use for aches were much higher for girls, the association between pain and medicine use was similarly strong for both genders. Adolescents with recurrent pain are more likely to use medicines also for non-corresponding pain, nervousness and difficulties in getting to sleep. The association between recurrent pain and medicine use was consistent across countries despite large-country differences in the prevalence of recurrent pain and medicine use. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent pain in adolescence is common cross-nationally. Adolescents with recurrent pain are more likely to use medicine in general. Recurrent pain and medicine use should be addressed in adolescent health policies.


Subject(s)
Abdominal Pain/drug therapy , Back Pain/drug therapy , Headache/drug therapy , Pain/drug therapy , Abdominal Pain/epidemiology , Adolescent , Back Pain/epidemiology , Female , Headache/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Pain/epidemiology , Prevalence , Recurrence , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires
8.
Int J Obes (Lond) ; 33(10): 1084-93, 2009 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19621018

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: It is important to understand levels and social inequalities in childhood overweight within and between countries. This study examined prevalence and social inequality in adolescent overweight in 35 countries, and associations with macroeconomic factors. DESIGN: International cross-sectional survey in national samples of schools. SUBJECTS: A total of 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds from 35 countries in Europe and North America in 2001-2002 (N=162 305). MEASUREMENTS: The main outcome measure was overweight based on self-reported height and weight (body mass index cut-points corresponding to body mass index of 25 kg/m(2) at the age of 18 years). Measures included family and school affluence (within countries), and average country income and economic inequality (between countries). RESULTS: There were large variations in adolescent overweight, from 3.5% in Lithuanian girls to 31.7% in boys from Malta. Prevalence of overweight was higher among children from less affluent families in 21 of 24 Western and 5 of 10 Central European countries. However, children from more affluent families were at higher risk of overweight in Croatia, Estonia and Latvia. In Poland, Lithuania, Macedonia and Finland, girls from less affluent families were more overweight whereas the opposite was found for boys. Average country income was associated with prevalence and inequality in overweight when considering all countries together. However, economic inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient was differentially associated with prevalence and socioeconomic inequality in overweight among the 23-high income and 10-middle income countries, with a positive relationship among the high income countries and a negative association among the middle income countries. CONCLUSION: The direction and magnitude of social inequality in adolescent overweight shows large international variation, with negative social gradients in most countries, but positive social gradients, especially for boys, in some Central European countries. Macroeconomic factors are associated with the heterogeneity in prevalence and social inequality of adolescent overweight.


Subject(s)
Overweight/epidemiology , Adolescent , Body Mass Index , Cross-Sectional Studies , Europe/epidemiology , Female , Health Status Disparities , Humans , Male , North America/epidemiology , Odds Ratio , Overweight/prevention & control , Prevalence , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors
9.
J Epidemiol Community Health ; 62(12): 1092-4, 2008 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18413436

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the agreement between parents' and children's reports on four items of family affluence: number of cars, own bedroom, number of family holidays and number of computers, and to analyse predictors of disagreement. DESIGN: Cross-sectional child-parent validation study of selected items from an internationally standardised questionnaire. SETTING: Survey conducted in schools in Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Scotland. PARTICIPANTS: 972 11-year-old children and their parents responded to the questionnaires. RESULTS: The child item response rates were high (above 93%). The per cent agreement was low for holidays spent with family (52.5%), but high for the other three items of family affluence (76.2-88.1%). The kappa coefficients were good or excellent for all items (between 0.41 and 0.74) and the gamma coefficients were strong for all items (between 0.56 and 0.96). Children from single-parent families were more likely to over-report family affluence (OR 2.67; CI 1.83 to 3.89). CONCLUSIONS: Young adolescents' self-reports of family affluence are fairly valid across the six countries. This finding suggests that the variables measured can be used in epidemiological studies that aim at ranking children according to socioeconomic position.


Subject(s)
Consensus , Parents , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Denmark , Germany , Humans , Hungary , Italy , Poland , Scotland
10.
Hum Reprod ; 20(11): 3248-56, 2005 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16006458

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We investigated coping strategies and communication strategies as predictors of fertility problem stress 12 months after start of fertility treatment. METHODS: We used a prospective, longitudinal cohort design including 2250 people beginning fertility treatment with a 12-month follow-up. Data were based on self-administered questionnaires measuring communication with partner and with other people, coping strategies: active-avoidance coping, active-confronting coping, passive-avoidance coping, meaning-based coping, and fertility problem stress. The study population included those participants (n = 816, men and women) who had not achieved pregnancy by assisted reproduction or delivery at follow-up. RESULTS: Among both men and women, difficulties in partner communication predicted high fertility problem stress (odds ratio for women, 3.47, 95% confidence interval 2.09-5.76; odds ratio for men, 3.69, 95% confidence interval 2.09-6.43). Active-avoidance coping (e.g. avoiding being with pregnant women or children, turning to work to take their mind off things) was a significant predictor of high fertility problem stress. Among men, high use of active-confronting coping (e.g. letting feelings out, asking other people for advice, seeking social support) predicted low fertility problem stress in the marital domain (odds ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.28-1.00). Among women, medium or high use of meaning-based coping significantly predicted low fertility problem stress in the personal and marital domain. CONCLUSION: The study provides information about where to intervene with fertility patients in order to reduce their stress after medically unsuccessful treatment.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Communication , Infertility/psychology , Reproductive Techniques, Assisted/psychology , Adult , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Infertility/epidemiology , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Marriage/psychology , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Social Class , Surveys and Questionnaires
11.
Hum Reprod ; 20(4): 1044-52, 2005 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15608029

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To analyse the cross-sectional association between coping responses with infertility and occupational social class. Infertility is evenly distributed across social classes in Denmark, and there is free access to high-quality assisted reproduction technology. METHODS: Data were based on a questionnaire in a consecutive sample of 1169 women and 1081 Danish men who were about to begin assisted reproduction treatment. The coping measure was developed from an adaptation of Lazarus and Folkman's Ways of Coping Questionnaire and based on results from interviews with infertile people. The measure was developed in four categories: active-avoidance coping; active-confronting coping; passive-avoidance coping; meaning-based coping. These subscales were later confirmed by factor analysis. Occupational social class was measured in a standardized way. RESULTS: Contrary to expectations, the logistic regression analyses showed that women from lower social classes V + VI and men from social classes III + IV used significantly more active-confronting coping. Women from lower social classes V + VI used significantly more meaning-based coping. Both men and women from social classes III - VI used significantly more passive-avoidance coping and significantly less active-avoidance coping. CONCLUSION: Due to the significant social differences in coping with infertility, the study suggested that elements of coping may be learned from one's social network and reference group.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Infertility/epidemiology , Infertility/psychology , Social Class , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Peer Group , Problem Solving , Social Support , Surveys and Questionnaires
12.
Hum Reprod ; 18(12): 2638-46, 2003 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14645185

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aims were: (i). to identify gender differences in evaluation of medical and patient-centred (psychosocial) care in fertility clinics and (ii). to identify predictors of satisfaction. METHODS: An epidemiological prospective study based on questionnaire responses among all new couples attending five fertility clinics. The response rate at the 12 month follow-up was 87.7% and included a total of 1934 patients. RESULTS: During the follow-up period about two-thirds had achieved a pregnancy and about a third became parents. The participants were satisfied with both the medical and patient-centred (psychosocial) services. There were no sex differences in the evaluation of treatment except that women were more satisfied than men with how the staff had performed their medical examinations. Satisfaction with medical and patient-centred services was positively associated with a treatment-related pregnancy/delivery and the report of marital benefits resulting from the infertility experience. Lower social class was a significant predictor for satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Both men and women in fertility treatment had high ratings on medical and patient-centred care. It seemed that satisfaction with the psychosocial services was higher than in earlier studies from other countries.


Subject(s)
Infertility/psychology , Infertility/therapy , Patient Satisfaction , Denmark , Female , Humans , Infertility, Male/psychology , Infertility, Male/therapy , Male , Marriage/psychology , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Reproductive Techniques, Assisted , Research , Sex Characteristics , Stress, Psychological , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome
13.
J Epidemiol Community Health ; 57(9): 681-6, 2003 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12933773

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between socioeconomic position in early life and mortality in young adulthood, taking birth weight and childhood cognitive function into account. DESIGN: A longitudinal study with record linkage to the Civil Registration System and Cause of Death Registry. The data were analysed using Cox regression. SETTING: The metropolitan area of Copenhagen, Denmark. SUBJECTS: 7493 male singletons born in 1953, who completed a questionnaire with various cognitive measures, in school at age 12 years, and for whom birth certificates with data on birth and parental characteristics had been traced manually in 1965. This population was followed up from April 1968 to January 2002 for information on mortality. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality from all causes, cardiovascular diseases, and violent deaths. RESULTS: Men whose fathers were working class or of unknown social class at time of birth had higher mortality rates compared with those whose fathers were high/middle class: hazard ratio 1.39 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.67) and 2.04 (95% CI 1.48 to 2.83) respectively. Birth weight and childhood cognitive function were both related to father's social class and inversely associated with all cause mortality. The association between father's social class and mortality attenuated (HR(working class)1.30 (1.08 to 1.56); HR(unknown class)1.81 (1.30 to 2.52)) after control for birth weight and cognitive function. Mortality from cardiovascular diseases and violent deaths was also significantly higher among men with fathers from the lower social classes. CONCLUSION: The inverse association between father's social class at time of birth and early adult mortality remains, however somewhat attenuated, after adjustment for birth weight and cognitive function.


Subject(s)
Birth Weight , Cognition , Mortality , Social Class , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality , Creativity , Denmark/epidemiology , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Intelligence , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Proportional Hazards Models , Violence/statistics & numerical data
14.
Hum Reprod ; 18(3): 628-37, 2003 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12615837

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aims were (i) to identify gender differences in motivations to seek assisted reproduction and gender differences in expectations about medical and psychosocial services and (ii) to examine factors that predict the perceived importance of, and intention to use, psychosocial services among infertile people. METHODS: We conducted an epidemiological study based on questionnaires among all new couples attending five fertility clinics with a response rate of 80.0% and a total of 2250 patients. RESULTS: The vast majority of both men and women considered a high level of medical information and patient-centred care as important. Fewer respondents (women 10.0-20.8%, men 4.1-8.9%) felt that professional psychosocial services were important and/or had the intention to use these services. The main predictor of perceived importance of patient-centred care and professional psychosocial services for both men and women was high infertility-related stress in the marital, personal and social domain. CONCLUSIONS: A supportive attitude from medical staff and the provision of both medical and psychosocial information and support should be integral aspects of medical care in fertility clinics. Although only a minority of the participants perceived professional psychosocial services as important, they should be available for patients whose infertility causes them much strain, especially for patients whose marital relationship suffered much because of infertility.


Subject(s)
Attitude to Health , Infertility/therapy , Patients/psychology , Female , Humans , Infertility/psychology , Male , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Patient Education as Topic , Patient-Centered Care , Psychology , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Stress, Psychological/therapy
15.
Tob Control ; 11(3): 246-51, 2002 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12198278

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adolescent smoking behaviour is associated with their perceived exposure to teachers or other pupils smoking at school, after adjustment for exposure to smoking at home, in school, and best friends smoking. DESIGN: Logistic regression analysis of cross sectional data from students in Denmark. SUBJECTS: 1515 grade 9 students (mean age 15.8) from 90 classes in 48 Danish schools. OUTCOME MEASURE: Self reported smoking behaviour; daily smoking and heavy smoking, defined as those smoking more than 20 cigarettes per week. RESULTS: Of the students in this study, 62% of boys and 60% of girls reported being exposed to teachers smoking outdoors on the school premises. The proportion of boys and girls reporting to have been exposed to teachers smoking inside the school building were 86% and 88%, respectively. Furthermore, 91% of boys and 92% of girls reported that they had seen other students smoking outdoors on the school premises. Adolescents' perceived exposure to teachers smoking outdoors on the school premises was significantly associated with daily smoking, having adjusted for sex, exposure to teachers smoking indoors at school and pupils smoking outdoors at school, as well as the smoking behaviour of mother, father, and best friend (odds ratio (OR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.8). Adolescents' perceived exposure to teachers smoking inside the school building was not associated with daily smoking (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.5 to 1.6) and perceived exposure to pupils smoking outdoors was not associated with daily smoking (adjusted OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.5 to 4.4). There were similar findings with heavy smoking as the outcome variable. CONCLUSIONS: Teachers smoking during school hours is associated with adolescent smoking. This finding has implications for future tobacco prevention strategies in schools in many countries with liberal smoking policies where it might provide support for those working to establish smokefree schools.


Subject(s)
Smoking/adverse effects , Social Facilitation , Students/psychology , Teaching , Adolescent , Cross-Sectional Studies , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Peer Group , Risk Factors , Smoking/epidemiology , Smoking/psychology , Students/statistics & numerical data
16.
Eur J Epidemiol ; 16(12): 1087-97, 2000.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11484796

ABSTRACT

In a follow-up study of 70-95 years old women and men (n = 911) we studied the association between change and stability in three structural aspects of social relations (contact frequency, contact diversity, cohabitation status) from 1986-1990 and mortality after the next four years in 1994. Women aged 70-74 years who developed low contact frequency or developed small contact diversity showed significantly higher mortality, adjusted ORfreq: 3.78 (1.08-13.20), adjusted ORdiv: 3.79 (1.24-11.58). Women aged 70-74 years with continuously low contact frequency showed an increased mortality compared to women constantly experiencing high contact frequency, adjusted OR: 2.75 (1.04-7.26). A tendency in the same direction for sustained small contact diversity was found, adjusted OR: 1.98 (0.70-5.61). Among women aged 75+ years no impact of frequency and diversity was demonstrated, whereas continuously living alone was a significant predictor of mortality, when compared to women continuously living with somebody, adjusted OR: 2.57 (1.29-5.09). In men, we found a significantly increased mortality among those who developed high contact frequency and developed large contact diversity ORfreq: 3.91 (1.02-14.94) and ORdiv: 6.04 (1.30-28.03). In summary, we found rather larger age differences in the strength of the association between change in structural social relations and mortality. Furthermore, the associations seemed stronger among women than men, which may however mainly be explained by the small number of men in our cohort.


Subject(s)
Interpersonal Relations , Life Style , Mortality/trends , Social Isolation , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Cohort Studies , Confidence Intervals , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Life Change Events , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Odds Ratio , Quality of Life , Risk Assessment , Sex Distribution , Social Support
17.
Dan Med Bull ; 46(4): 345-9, 1999 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10514941

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED: This paper describes a new measure of Active Life Expectancy, called Active Life Classification (ALC) in which the criterion for successful aging is a combination of good functional ability and high social participation. OBJECTIVES: 1) to describe the distribution of ALC among 75-year-old men and women, 2) to investigate the association between ALC and life satisfaction and 3) to describe how ALC is determined by socio-demographic, psycho-social, and health factors. DESIGN: A cross-sectional population survey. SETTING: Eleven municipalities in the Western part of Copenhagen County in 1989. SUBJECTS: A random sample of 75-year-old people who were invited to participate in the study (participation rate: 89, n = 477). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: ALC is a combination of two dichotomized variables: functional ability (dependent vs not dependent of help) and social participation (low vs. high). RESULTS: For both men and women an active life (measured by ALC) was significantly associated with life satisfaction. For men only good self-rated health was related to ALC in the multivariate analysis. Among women high income, many social contacts, good self-rated health, good memory and lack of chronic diseases were associated with ALC. CONCLUSIONS: It is an advantage to combine functional ability and social participation in the description of quality of life in old age, as 1) a high social participation may compensate for a poor functional ability, and vice versa, 2) the combined measure is meaningful for both sexes, and 3) it gives more information than the two concepts used as separate outcome measures.


Subject(s)
Aging/physiology , Life Style , Aged , Aging/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Personal Satisfaction , Quality of Life , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors
19.
Ugeskr Laeger ; 161(15): 2201-6, 1999 Apr 12.
Article in Danish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10222815

ABSTRACT

The objective was to analyse bullying in relation to sociodemographic factors, health, well-being, and health behaviours. The study is the 1998 Danish contribution to the international WHO-coordinated study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children. It includes 5,205 11-15 year-old students from a random sample of 55 schools who answered a standardized questionnaire. Twenty-five percent were bullied several times during the academic year, most frequently among the youngest students, and independent of sex; 32% bullied others, boys more frequently than girls; the frequency increased with age. Bullying was associated with low social class. Bullying varied considerably among schools. The victims had more problems as regards health, well-being and self-esteem; they smoked and drank less than others. Those who bullied others also had more problems but to a much smaller extent than the victims. They had higher levels of risk behaviours such as smoking, drinking, and seat-belt avoidance, and were less satisfied with school. In conclusion, victims of bullying have a very high proportion of health problems, poor well-being and low self-esteem. To bully others is significantly associated with health risk behaviours.


Subject(s)
Aggression/psychology , Health Behavior , School Health Services , Social Behavior , Adolescent , Child , Denmark , Female , Humans , Life Style , Male , Psychology, Adolescent , Psychology, Child , Risk Factors , Self Concept , Social Class , Surveys and Questionnaires
20.
Ugeskr Laeger ; 161(35): 4874-9, 1999 Aug 30.
Article in Danish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10778316

ABSTRACT

The objective is to describe the one year incidence rate of self-reported injuries, their causes, where they happened, and their consequences within the age group 11-15 years. Four thousand and forty-six students from a random sample of 45 schools answered a standardized questionnaire about health and health behaviour. This report regards injuries treated by a doctor or a nurse. During one year, 28% were injured, 12% more than once; 12% needed medical treatment such as a plaster cast, stitches, surgery or staying in a hospital; 16% missed at least one full day in school. The injury incidence rate increases with age among boys but not among girls. The proportion with more than one injury increases by age among girls but not boys. The proportion who receive hospital treatment is higher among boys than girls. The proportion who stay home from school because of the injury increases with age among both girls and boys. Five percent are injured at home, 5% at school, 9% are injured at a sport facility, and 4% in the street/road. Ten percent report a sports injury, 4% an injury by falling, and 3% by riding a bicycle. Most common injuries are sprain/strain/pull of a muscle (9%), broken or dislocated bone (6%), and cuts (3%). In conclusion, the incidence of self-reported injuries is much higher than the hospital-reported. More research about injury-mechanisms and more preventive efforts are needed.


Subject(s)
Accidents/statistics & numerical data , Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology , Accidental Falls/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Child , Denmark/epidemiology , Female , Health Behavior , Humans , Incidence , Life Style , Male , School Health Services , Surveys and Questionnaires , Wounds and Injuries/etiology
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