| dc.description.abstract | Background: Current health problems are complex and often related to a person's lifestyle, and thus it is necessary to examine them with self-reported data. These kinds of data can be an important complement to more objective data based on the assessment made by health professionals, as reported by Idler and Benyamini(Idler and Benyamini 1997). In this study, we examined the relationships of Lifestyle factors and risk factors with self-reported general health in an adult Norwegian population. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationships between Lifestyle factors and risk factors with self-reported general health and whether these relations are mediated by illness and socio-demographic characteristics in the adult Norwegian population. Methods: This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional design using anonymous data from the 1997-1999 (HUSK) health study. The study population included individuals in Hordaland county, born 1953-57 (29,400). A total of 18581, among these 8598 men and 9,983 women participated.The Completed information for all variables included in the current study was availabel for 12,883 individuals (44%) of the study population. The data analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Findings: Among the total of 12,883 male and female individuals, 11,208 (87%) reported very good and 1675(13%) poor health status. Being women gender (OR: 1.3), unmarried or not living with a partner, (OR: 1.5), and with illness (OR: 2.7, increased the likelihood of reporting poor health status compared to men and married individuals. In addition, Overweight or Obesity, high alcohol/spirits/ consumption and current smokers had (OR: 1.6 or 1.7, 3.3 and 1.2) increased risk of reporting poor health status, respectively. On the other hand, being physical active, attaining high school or college/university education and moderate alcohol/wine/ consumption had (50%, 30% or 40%, and 30%) reduced likelihood of reporting poor self-reported health status, respectively. Conclusion: Self-reported general health was positively associated with lifestyle factors such as, Leisure time exercise, individuals who consume moderate amount of alcohol/wine/ and attained better educational background and being gender men. On the other hand, Health-related behaviors and risk factors, such as being overweight or obese, consuming high alcohol /spirits/, and being current smokers and not in living with a partner, women gender, health problems and low educational status were found determinant factors to predict poor self-reported health in middle aged Norwegian populations. Therefore, to reduce the risk of reporting poor self-reported health in the Norwegian society, Future health policy, intervention strategies should consider and target health-related behaviors such as, high alcohol intake, chronic diseases, gender women, and physical active and cigarette smoking. In summary, a one-item question measuring self-reported health may be a suitable measure for health care providers or nurses to use in a practical setting, to identify levels of subjective health among the patients and clients of their health care services users. Publication: This study was a part of a Master thesis and has been performed from June 2012- 2013 and an article will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal and the thesis was submitted in the autumn semester 2013. | en_US |
