Socioeconomic Inequity in Self-Rated Health Status and Contribution of Health Behavioral Factors in Korea.
10.3961/jpmph.2010.43.1.50
- Author:
Minkyung KIM
1
;
Woojin CHUNG
;
Seungji LIM
;
Soojin YOON
;
Jakyoung LEE
;
Eunkyung KIM
;
Lanju KO
Author Information
1. Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Korea. sjlim@yuhs.ac
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Social class;
Health status;
Socioeconomic factors;
Health behavior;
Korea
- From:Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
2010;43(1):50-61
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The study is investigated socioeconomic variations in self-rated health status and contribution of health behavioral factors in Korea. METHODS: A nationally representative sample (2,800 men and 3,230 women aged 20-64 years) from the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Surveys was analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Self-rated health was lower among lower socioeconomic groups compared with higher socioeconomic groups, with gender being irrelevant. This association was attenuated when health behavioral and socio-demographic factors were adjusted. When each health behavioral factor was considered separately, mediators such as smoking in men, and stress or exercise in women explained a large part of the decreased socioeconomic health inequalities. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, subjective health inequalities arise from different socioeconomic status, but this difference is decreased by health behavioral factors. Therefore, socioeconomic inequity in self-rated health status can be corrected more effectively by promotional health behaviors.
