Education and health-behaviour among men and women in Sweden: A 27-year prospective cohort study. Issue 3 (May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brännlund, Annica; Hammarström, Anne; Strandh, Mattias
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of public health. Volume 41:Issue 3(2013)
• Page Start: 284
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2013-05
• Subjects: Education -- health-behaviour -- life course -- youth; Public health -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; 614
• DOI: 10.1177/1403494813475531
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1403-4948

Abstract

Background : Previous research has found a positive association between health-behaviour and health. Only a few longitudinal studies have been performed, and as far as we found, none have followed a cohort for 27 years. Methods : This study used a cohort study, the "Northern Swedish Cohort", which consisted of all graduates, n = 1080, from a compulsory school in a Swedish town. Data were collected with a comprehensive questionnaire; response rate 96.4%. Health-behaviour was analysed with binary logistic regression, with health-behaviour at age 21, 30 and 43 years as dependent variable. Besides baseline health-behaviour, gender, somatic and psychological health and socioeconomic background, the analyses were adjusted for work situation and social network. Results : The main findings were that education reduces the probability of unhealthy behaviour over the life course, which held after controlling for early life health-behaviour and possible confounders. The general education effect on health-behaviour was stronger among men than among women. Conclusions : Higher education reduces the probability of unhealthy behavior. Thus, investments in higher education should be an important public goal.