scholarly journals The More Educated, the Healthier: Evidence from Rural China

Author(s):  
Weidong Wang ◽  
Yongqing Dong ◽  
Xiaohong Liu ◽  
Linxiu Zhang ◽  
Yunli Bai ◽  
...  

Education, as an important aspect of human capital, not only affects the economic returns of an individual, but also affects non-economic returns. This paper uses data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2014 and explores the impact of education on the health status of rural residents by using the family fixed-effect model. We find that education can improve the self-reported health status and reduce the possibility of depression of rural residents. We also find that the effect of education on self-reported health status of rural young people more significant than that of middle-aged and old people, but the effect on depression score was weaker than that of middle-aged and old people. Compared with the high-income group, education improved the health of the lowest income group more significantly. Finally, we explore the mechanism of education affecting the health of rural residents from a multi-dimensional perspective.

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
SangNam Ahn ◽  
Seonghoon Kim ◽  
Kanghyock Koh

Abstract Background The COVID–19 pandemic has challenged the capacity of healthcare systems around the world and can potentially compromise healthcare utilization and health outcomes among non-COVID–19 patients. Objectives To examine the associations of the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare utilization, out-of-pocket medical costs, and perceived health among middle-aged and older individuals in Singapore. Method Utilizing data collected from a monthly panel survey, a difference-in-differences approach was used to characterize monthly changes of healthcare use and spending and estimate the probability of being diagnosed with a chronic condition and self-reported health status before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. Subjects Data were analyzed from 7569 nationally representative individuals from 2019 January and 2020 December. Measures Healthcare utilization and healthcare spending by medical service categories as well as self-reported health status. Results Between January and April 2020 (the first peak period of COVID-19 in Singapore), doctor visits decreased by 30%, and out-of-pocket medical spending decreased by 23%, mostly driven by reductions in inpatient and outpatient care. As a result, the probability of any diagnosis of chronic conditions decreased by 19% in April 2020. The decreased healthcare utilization and spending recovered after lifting the national lockdown in June, 2020 and remained similar to the pre-pandemic level through the rest of 2020. Conclusions Middle-aged and older Singaporeans’ healthcare utilization and the diagnosis of chronic conditions substantially decreased during the first peak period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Further studies to track the longer-term health effect of the pandemic among non-COVID-19 patients are warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Obbarius ◽  
Felix Fischer ◽  
Gregor Liegl ◽  
Alexander Obbarius ◽  
Matthias Rose

BackgroundStress is a major risk factor for the impairment of psychological well-being. The present study aimed to evaluate the empirical evidence of the Transactional Stress Model proposed by Lazarus and Folkman in patients with psychosomatic health conditions.MethodsA structural equation model was applied in two separate subsamples of inpatients from the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine (total n = 2,216) for consecutive model building (sample 1, n = 1,129) and confirmatory analyses (sample 2, n = 1,087) using self-reported health status information about perceived stress, personal resources, coping mechanisms, stress response, and psychological well-being.ResultsThe initial model was created to reflect the theoretical assumptions by Lazarus and Folkman about their transactional stress concept. This model was modified until a sufficient model fit was reached (sample 1: CFI = 0.904, TLI = 0.898, RMSEA = 0.072 [0.071–0.074], SRMR = 0.061). The modified model was confirmed in a second sample (sample 2: CFI = 0.932, TLI = 0.928, RMSEA = 0.066 [0.065–0.068], SRMR = 0.052). Perceived external stressors and personal resources explained 91% of the variance of the stress response, which was closely related to symptoms of depression (63% variance explained). The attenuating effect of resources on stress response was higher (standardized β = -0.73, p < 0.001) than the impact of perceived stressors on stress response (standardized β = 0.34, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe empirical data largely confirmed the theoretical assumption of the Transactional Stress Model, which was first presented by Lazarus and Folkman, in patients with a wide range of psychosomatic conditions. However, data analyses were solely based on self-reported health status. Thus, proposed inner psychological mechanisms such as the appraisal process could not be included in this empirical validation. The operationalization and understanding of coping processes should be further improved.


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (6) ◽  
pp. 1814-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salla Karjula ◽  
Laure Morin-Papunen ◽  
Stephen Franks ◽  
Juha Auvinen ◽  
Marjo-Riitta Järvelin ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but longitudinal data beyond the reproductive years are lacking, and the impact of isolated PCOS symptoms is unclear. Objective To study generic HRQoL using the 15D questionnaire, life satisfaction, and self-reported health status in women with PCOS symptoms at ages 31 and 46 years. Design A longitudinal assessment using the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. Setting General community. Participants The 15D data were available for women reporting isolated oligo-amenorrhea (OA; at age 31 years, 214; and 46 years, 211), isolated hirsutism (H; 31 years, 211; and 46 years, 216), OA + H (PCOS; 31 years, 74; and 46 years, 75), or no PCOS symptoms (controls; 31 years, 1382; and 46 years, 1412). Data for life satisfaction and current health status were available for OA (31 years, 329; and 46 years, 247), H (31 years, 323; and 46 years, 238), PCOS (31 years, 125; and 46 years, 86), control (31 years, 2182; and 46 years, 1613) groups. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) 15D HRQoL, questionnaires on life satisfaction, and self-reported health status. Results HRQoL was lower at ages 31 and 46 in women with PCOS or H than in the controls. PCOS was an independent risk factor for low HRQoL, and the decrease in HRQoL in PCOS was similar to that of women with other chronic conditions, such as asthma, migraine, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. The risk for low HRQoL in PCOS remained significant after adjusting for body mass index, hyperandrogenism, and socioeconomic status. Mental distress was the strongest contributing factor to HRQoL. PCOS was also associated with a risk for low life satisfaction and a 4-fold risk for reporting a poor health status. Conclusions Women with PCOS present with low HRQoL, decreased life satisfaction, and a poorer self-reported health status up to their late reproductive years. Assessments and interventions aiming to improve HRQoL in PCOS should be targeted beyond the fertile age.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun-Tsung Chen ◽  
Po-Fu Lee ◽  
Chi-Fang Lin ◽  
Andy Chang ◽  
Yu-Chun Chung ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Through this study, we aimed to determine the association of regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with self-reported body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed the data derived from the Taiwan’s National Physical Activity Survey (TNPAS). Responses from 12,687 participants aged 45–108 years from the database were collected in this study. All participants completed a standardized, structured questionnaire that solicitated information regarding their demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, occupation, and self-reported health status), physical activity behaviors (regular/nonregular LTPA), and self-reported anthropometrics (height, weight, and BMI). Multiple linear and logistic regression were used to examine the association between regular LTPA and BMI as well as between regular LTPA and obesity status, respectively. Results Regular LTPA was associated with a male preponderance, normal weight, excellent or good self-reported health status, and a lower rate of underweight compared with nonregular LTPA. Regular LTPA was significant negatively associated with underweight (OR = 0.71, p < 0.05), whereas it had no significant relationship with BMI and obesity (p > 0.05). Conclusions Regular LTPA was associated with a reduced risk of underweight among middle-aged and elderly adults in Taiwan. Further research on the relevant mechanism underlying this phenomenon is warranted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (9) ◽  
pp. 1377-1403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Bosch ◽  
Laia Palència ◽  
Davide Malmusi ◽  
Marc Marí-Dell'Olmo ◽  
Carme Borrell

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1719
Author(s):  
Yun-Tsung Chen ◽  
Po-Fu Lee ◽  
Chi-Fang Lin ◽  
Andy Chang ◽  
Yu-Chun Chung ◽  
...  

Through this study, we aimed to determine the association of regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) with self-reported body mass index (BMI) and obesity risk among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed the data derived from the Taiwan National Physical Activity Survey (TNPAS). Responses from 12,687 participants aged 45–108 years from the database were collected in this study. All the participants completed a standardized structured questionnaire that solicitated information regarding their demographic characteristics (age, gender, education, occupation, and self-reported health status), physical activity behaviors (regular/nonregular LTPA), and self-reported anthropometrics (height, weight, and BMI). Multiple linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the association between regular LTPA and BMI, and between regular LTPA and obesity status, respectively. Regular LTPA was associated with male gender, normal weight, excellent or good self-reported health status, and a lower rate of being underweight compared with nonregular LTPA. Regular LTPA was significant negatively associated with being underweight (OR = 0.71, p < 0.05), whereas it had no significant relationship with BMI and obesity (p > 0.05). Regular LTPA was associated with a reduced risk of being underweight among middle-aged and elderly adults in Taiwan. Further research on the relevant mechanism underlying this phenomenon is warranted.


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