Working conditions and health behavior as causes of educational inequalities in self-rated health: an inverse odds weighting approach

• Main Authors: Jolinda LD Schram (Author), Joost Oude Groeniger (Author), Merel Schuring (Author), Karin I Proper (Author), Sandra H van Oostrom (Author), Suzan JW Robroek (Author), Alex Burdorf (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH), 2021-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0355-3140; 1795-990X; 10.5271/sjweh.3918
• Keywords: health behavior; socioeconomic inequality; mediation analysis; working condition; educational inequality; self-rated health; longitudinal analysis; inverse odds weighting; causal mediation; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Vol 47, Iss 2, Pp 127-135 (2021)

OBJECTIVE: Using a novel mediation method that presents unbiased results even in the presence of exposure-mediator interactions, this study estimated the extent to which working conditions and health behaviors contribute to educational inequalities in self-rated health in the workforce. METHODS: Respondents of the longitudinal Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 16 countries were selected, aged 50-64 years, in paid employment at baseline and with information on education and self-rated health (N=15 028). Education, health behaviors [including body mass index (BMI)] and working conditions were measured at baseline and self-rated health at baseline and two-year follow-up. Causal mediation analysis with inverse odds weighting was used to estimate the total effect of education on self-rated health, decomposed into a natural direct effect (NDE) and natural indirect effect (NIE). RESULTS: Lower educated workers were more likely to perceive their health as poor than higher educated workers [relative risk (RR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-1.60]. They were also more likely to have unfavorable working conditions and unhealthy behaviors, except for alcohol consumption. When all working conditions were included, the remaining NDE was RR 1.30 (95% CI 1.15-1.44). When BMI and health behaviors were included, the remaining NDE was RR 1.40 (95% CI 1.27-1.54). Working conditions explained 38% and health behaviors and BMI explained 16% of educational inequalities in health. Including all mediators explained 64% of educational inequalities in self-rated health. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions and health behaviors explain over half of the educational inequalities in self-rated health. To reduce health inequalities, improving working conditions seems to be more important than introducing health promotion programs in the workforce.