Subjective Health and Social Factors: Multidimensional Data Analyses of Cross-National Survey

Abstract

It is well known that health and social factors are closely related. The aim of this study is to examine subjective health through the analysis of cross-national comparative surveys to clarify cultural characteristics of subjective health (self-rated health). I examined countries/areas using the results of our past surveys (Table 1. Yoshino, Nikaido & Fujita, 2009, Behaviormetrica, 36, 2, 89–113). In this analysis, I examined self-rated health symptoms, health satisfaction, life satisfaction, and sense of anxiety as well as other social factors. Multidimensional data analyses of all items on subjective health and on social factors showed a similar pattern between countries/areas. Furthermore, multidimensional scaling for Japanese emigrants and their offsprings and their related countries showed meaningful cultural links of comparison but not so large generational difference between 2-SEI and 3-SEI with respect to health and life satisfactions.