Abstract
Background. The present study is part of a 3-year longitudinal study on work and health among employees in the public sector in Sweden. The aim was to study associations between self-rated health (SRH) and financial situation, education, and managerial responsibility.Methods. Of the 9003 employees, 7533 answered the baseline questionnaires (84%). Altogether 9373 subjects received the follow-up questionnaire, and 6617 subjects responded (71%). In total 4240 completed the questionnaire on both occasions, and this group comprised the study population. SRH consisted of the response to a single question: ‘In general, would you say your health is excellent, very good, good, poor, or very poor?' The health was investigated in terms of the development of health status in the 3-year follow-up. The exposure factors were: financial situation, education, and managerial responsibility. Odds ratios were analysed using logistic regressions.Results. Good financial situation and further education were predictors in maintaining good health and in avoiding poor health. The analysis also indicated the following determinants of sustained good SRH: having a good financial situation (OR 1.99 at baseline and OR 1.87 at follow-up), having a further education compared to lower education (OR 1.17 at baseline), and not having a worsening financial situation between baseline and follow-up (OR 0.53).Conclusion. Financial situation and educational level were important factors that influence the subjective perception of health.
Highlights
Health is a complex concept, and no generally accepted definition exists
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between self-rated health and some aspects of status, such as financial situation, education, and managerial responsibility among persons employed in the public sector in Sweden
Smoking was more common in the groups with worsening and sustained poor self-rated health (SRH) compared with the group with sustained good SRH (P < 0.001)
Summary
Health is a complex concept, and no generally accepted definition exists. The World Health Organization (WHO) first defined health in a utopian way as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [1]. In a Swedish review, health was defined in three concepts: as absence of illness, as a resource, and as strength [2] Another definition was given by Boorse, who stated that health is equivalent to normal functioning [3,4]. The aim was to study associations between self-rated health (SRH) and financial situation, education, and managerial responsibility. Financial situation and educational level were important factors that influence the subjective perception of health
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