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All in it together? The effects of recession on population health and health inequalities in England and Sweden, 1991 to 2010

Copeland, A.; Bambra, C.; Nylén, L.; Kasim, A.S.; Riva, M.; Curtis, S.; Burström, B.

All in it together? The effects of recession on population health and health inequalities in England and Sweden, 1991 to 2010 Thumbnail


Authors

A. Copeland

C. Bambra

L. Nylén

A.S. Kasim

M. Riva

S. Curtis

B. Burström



Abstract

This article is the first to comparatively examine the effects of two recessions on population health and health inequalities in the two historically contrasting welfare states of England and Sweden. Data from 1991–2010 on self-reported general health, age, gender, and educational status were obtained from the Health Survey for England, the Swedish Survey of Living Conditions, and the European Union Survey of Income and Living Conditions, for individuals aged over 16. Generalized linear models were used to test the effects of recessions on self-reported health and educational inequalities in health. Overall, recessions had a significant positive effect on the health of women—but not men—in both England (4%) and Sweden (7%). In England, this improvement was only enjoyed by the most educated women, with the health of less educated women declining during recession. In contrast, in Sweden, the health of all women improved significantly during recession regardless of their educational status, although the most educated benefitted the most. Relative educational inequalities in self-reported health therefore increased during recessions in both countries by 14 percent (England) and 17 percent (Sweden) but for different reasons. This study suggests that Sweden's welfare state protects the health of all during recessions.

Citation

Copeland, A., Bambra, C., Nylén, L., Kasim, A., Riva, M., Curtis, S., & Burström, B. (2015). All in it together? The effects of recession on population health and health inequalities in England and Sweden, 1991 to 2010. International Journal of Health Services, 45(1), 3-24. https://doi.org/10.2190/hs.45.1.b

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 1, 2015
Deposit Date Mar 16, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal International Journal of Health Services
Print ISSN 0020-7314
Electronic ISSN 1541-4469
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 45
Issue 1
Pages 3-24
DOI https://doi.org/10.2190/hs.45.1.b

Files

Accepted Journal Article (530 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
Copeland, A. and Bambra, C. and Nylén, L. and Kasim, A.S. and Riva, M. and Curtis, S. and Burström, B. (2015) 'All in it together? The effects of recession on population health and health inequalities in England and Sweden, 1991 to 2010.', International journal of health services., 45 (1). pp. 3-24. © 2015, The Author(s). Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.





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