Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The analyses focus on three aims: (1) to explore the associations between education and emotional support in 22 European countries, (2) to explore the associations between emotional support and self-rated health in the European count...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Geyer Siegfried, von dem Knesebeck Olaf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2007-10-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/272
_version_ 1819124579692445696
author Geyer Siegfried
von dem Knesebeck Olaf
author_facet Geyer Siegfried
von dem Knesebeck Olaf
author_sort Geyer Siegfried
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The analyses focus on three aims: (1) to explore the associations between education and emotional support in 22 European countries, (2) to explore the associations between emotional support and self-rated health in the European countries, and (3) to analyse whether the association between education and self-rated health can be partly explained by emotional support.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study uses data from the European Social Survey 2003. Probability sampling from all private residents aged 15 years and older was applied in all countries. The European Social Survey includes 42,359 cases. Persons under age 25 were excluded to minimise the number of respondents whose education was not complete. Education was coded according to the International Standard Classification of Education. Perceived emotional support was assessed by the availability of a confidant with whom one can discuss intimate and personal matters with. Self-rated health was used as health indicator.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results of multiple logistic regression analyses show that emotional support is positively associated with education among women and men in most European countries. However, the magnitude of the association varies according to country and gender. Emotional support is positively associated with self-rated health. Again, gender and country differences in the association were observed. Emotional support explains little of the educational differences in self-rated health among women and men in most European countries.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results indicate that it is important to consider socio-economic factors like education and country-specific contexts in studies on health effects of emotional support.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-22T07:26:29Z
format Article
id doaj.art-fd1ae2f35b71417da6cda62e78ea9eb8
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2458
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T07:26:29Z
publishDate 2007-10-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj.art-fd1ae2f35b71417da6cda62e78ea9eb82022-12-21T18:34:07ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582007-10-017127210.1186/1471-2458-7-272Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countriesGeyer Siegfriedvon dem Knesebeck Olaf<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The analyses focus on three aims: (1) to explore the associations between education and emotional support in 22 European countries, (2) to explore the associations between emotional support and self-rated health in the European countries, and (3) to analyse whether the association between education and self-rated health can be partly explained by emotional support.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study uses data from the European Social Survey 2003. Probability sampling from all private residents aged 15 years and older was applied in all countries. The European Social Survey includes 42,359 cases. Persons under age 25 were excluded to minimise the number of respondents whose education was not complete. Education was coded according to the International Standard Classification of Education. Perceived emotional support was assessed by the availability of a confidant with whom one can discuss intimate and personal matters with. Self-rated health was used as health indicator.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results of multiple logistic regression analyses show that emotional support is positively associated with education among women and men in most European countries. However, the magnitude of the association varies according to country and gender. Emotional support is positively associated with self-rated health. Again, gender and country differences in the association were observed. Emotional support explains little of the educational differences in self-rated health among women and men in most European countries.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results indicate that it is important to consider socio-economic factors like education and country-specific contexts in studies on health effects of emotional support.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/272
spellingShingle Geyer Siegfried
von dem Knesebeck Olaf
Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries
BMC Public Health
title Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries
title_full Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries
title_fullStr Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries
title_full_unstemmed Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries
title_short Emotional support, education and self-rated health in 22 European countries
title_sort emotional support education and self rated health in 22 european countries
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/272
work_keys_str_mv AT geyersiegfried emotionalsupporteducationandselfratedhealthin22europeancountries
AT vondemknesebeckolaf emotionalsupporteducationandselfratedhealthin22europeancountries