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Dierckens M, Deforche B, De Clercq B, Weinberg D, Stevens GWJM, Chatelan A, Rouche M, Clays E, Delaruelle K. Country-level sociocultural context and socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent dietary behaviours: A multilevel analysis in 21 European countries. Appetite 2024; 198:107339. [PMID: 38604381 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Studies to date have predominantly focused on countries' socioeconomic conditions (e.g., income inequality) to explain cross-national differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health (behaviours). However, the potential explanatory role of sociocultural contexts at country-level remains underexamined. This study examined whether the country-level sociocultural context and changes thereof were associated with adolescent socioeconomic inequalities in dietary behaviours. International comparative data of 344,352 adolescents living in 21 countries participating in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey were combined with aggregated levels of openness-to-change from the European Social Survey (ESS). Four dietary behaviours (i.e., fruit, vegetable, sweets and soft drink consumption) and two measures of socioeconomic status (SES) on the individual level (i.e., family affluence scale [FAS] and occupational social class [OSC]) were studied. Multilevel logistic regression analyses returned contrasting results for the two SES measures used. In countries with higher levels of openness-to-change, smaller FAS inequalities in daily fruit, sweets and soft drink consumption were observed, but no such inequalities were found for vegetable consumption. Conversely, in these countries, larger OSC inequalities in soft drink consumption were found. Country-specific changes in openness-to-change over time were not associated with the magnitude of adolescent dietary inequalities. Findings underscore the importance of including country-level sociocultural contexts to improve the understanding of cross-national differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescents' diets. Future studies, spanning a longer timeframe, are required to examine whether such associations exist within countries over time since our timeframe might have been too small to capture these long-term trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Dierckens
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium; Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance Research Group, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Mensura R&D Department, Mensura EDPB, Italiëlei 2, 2000, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Dominic Weinberg
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gonneke W J M Stevens
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Padualaan 14, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Angeline Chatelan
- Research Centre in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Manon Rouche
- Research Centre in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katrijn Delaruelle
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Lind CM, De Clercq B, Forsman M, Grootaers A, Verbrugghe M, Van Dyck L, Yang L. Effectiveness and usability of real-time vibrotactile feedback training to reduce postural exposure in real manual sorting work. Ergonomics 2023; 66:198-216. [PMID: 35466852 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2069869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Vibrotactile feedback training may be used as a complementary strategy to reduce time in demanding postures in manual handling. This study evaluated the short- and medium-term effects of concurrent posture-correction vibrotactile feedback training on trunk inclination exposure in real manual sorting work. Fifteen warehouse workers completed the training and the follow-up sessions. Trunk inclination angles were recorded using the ambulatory Smart Workwear System. Questionnaires were used for assessing system usability, perceived physical exertion, and work ability. The results showed reduced time in trunk inclination >30°, >45°, and >60°, and reductions in the 90th, 95th, and 99th percentile trunk inclination angles, when receiving feedback and immediately after feedback withdrawal. No significant reduction was retained after one and three weeks. The wearer's comfort was scored high, and the feedback did not increase the perceived cognitive demands. No significant effects attributed to changed trunk inclination exposure were observed for perceived physical exertion or work ability. The training program has the potential of contributing to reduced trunk inclination exposure in the short term. Future studies are needed to evaluate if improvements in the feedback training can transfer the short-term results to retained median- and long-term effects.Practitioner summary: A two-day training program with concurrent posture-correction vibrotactile feedback can contribute to reduced exposure of trunk inclination in real manual sorting work in the short term. More research is needed on how to design the feedback training programs in order to be effective in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Mikael Lind
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Mikael Forsman
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Ergonomics, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Huddinge, Sweden
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Liyun Yang
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Dierckens M, Richter M, Moor I, Elgar FJ, Clays E, Deforche B, De Clercq B. Trends in material and non-material inequalities in adolescent health and health behaviours: A 12-year study in 23 European countries. Prev Med 2022; 157:107018. [PMID: 35283161 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Information on trends in adolescent health inequalities is scarce but the available evidence suggests that inequalities are increasing. Prior studies describe associations between material resources of socioeconomic status (SES) and health, while information on non-material SES resources and inequalities in health behaviours is lacking. To improve current understandings of evolutions in adolescent health inequalities, we examined how material and non-material SES resources were associated with changes in selected health outcomes (life satisfaction, physical and psychological symptoms) and health behaviours (physical activity, screen time, breakfast, fruit, vegetables, sweets and soft drinks consumption and alcohol and tobacco use) over a 12-year period. Repeated cross-sectional data came from the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey from 23 European countries (n = 480,386). Measures of family affluence and occupational social class were used as indicators of material and non-material SES resources respectively. Regression-based slope indices of inequality indicated that absolute material and non-material inequalities remained stable from 2002 to 2014 in all health outcomes, except for life satisfaction for which a decrease in material inequalities was found between the highest and lowest affluence group (0.81 to 0.68 difference; p < 0.001). In terms of health behaviours, material inequalities decreased in screen time between highest and lowest affluence groups (0.53 to 0.34 h/day difference; p < 0.001), fruit (odds ratio [OR] 1.89 to 1.72 lower odds; p = 0.0088) and soft drinks consumption (OR 1.36 to 1.13 lower odds; p < 0.001) and remained stable in all others. Non-material inequalities increased in all health behaviours (except for sweets consumption) between highest and lowest occupational social class groups: physical activity (0.16 to 0.24 h/day difference; p = 0.0071), screen time (-0.41 to -0.58 h/day difference; p < 0.001), breakfast (0.21 to 0.51 day/week difference; p < 0.001), fruit (OR 1.23 to 1.48 higher odds; p < 0.001), vegetables (OR 1.39 to 1.74 higher odds; p < 0.001) and soft drinks consumption (OR 0.59 to 0.43 lower odds; p < 0.001) and alcohol (OR 0.99 to 0.85 lower odds; p = 0.0420) and tobacco use (OR 0.71 to 0.59 lower odds; p = 0.0183). In summary, non-material inequalities in most health behaviours increased, whereas material inequalities in adolescent health and health behaviours remain stable or decreased. Policies and interventions may consider non-material SES components as these can help in reducing future health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Dierckens
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Matthias Richter
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Irene Moor
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Straße 8, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Frank J Elgar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, 2001 McGill College Avenue, Suite 1200, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium; Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance Research Group, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Lind CM, De Clercq B, Forsman M, Grootaers A, Verbrugghe M, Van Dyck L, Yang L. Reducing postural exposure in real manual sorting work by means of real time vibrotactile feedback training. Saf Health Work 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2021.12.1213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Leal-López E, Sánchez-Queija I, Vieno A, Currie D, Torsheim T, Pavlova D, Moreno-Maldonado C, De Clercq B, Kalman M, Inchley J. Cross-national time trends in adolescent alcohol use from 2002 to 2014. Eur J Public Health 2021; 31:859-866. [PMID: 34259859 PMCID: PMC8790077 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adolescent alcohol consumption is a major public health concern that should be continuously monitored. This study aims (i) to analyze country-level trends in weekly alcohol consumption, drunkenness and early initiation in alcohol consumption and drunkenness among 15-year-old adolescents from 39 countries and regions across Europe and North America between 2002 and 2014 and (ii) to examine the geographical patterns in adolescent alcohol-related behaviours. Methods The sample was composed of 250 161 adolescents aged 15 from 39 countries and regions from Europe and North America. Survey years were 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. The alcohol consumption and drunkenness items of the HBSC questionnaire were employed. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression models with robust variance. Results Data show a general decrease in all four alcohol variables between 2002 and 2014 except for some countries. However, there is variability both within a country (depending on the alcohol-related behaviour under study) and across countries (in the beginning and shape of trends). Some countries have not reduced or even increased their levels in some variables. Although some particularities have persisted over time, there are no robust patterns by regions. Conclusions Despite an overall decrease in adolescent alcohol consumption, special attention should be paid to those countries where declines are not present, or despite decreasing, rates are still high. Further research is needed to clarify factors associated with adolescent drinking, to better understand country specificities and to implement effective policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Leal-López
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | | | - Alessio Vieno
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Dorothy Currie
- School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Torbjorn Torsheim
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Daria Pavlova
- Ukrainian Institute for Social Research After Olexander Yaremenko, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | | | - Bart De Clercq
- Mensura R&D Department, Mensura EDPB, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Michal Kalman
- Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Joanna Inchley
- MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Dierckens M, Weinberg D, Huang Y, Elgar F, Moor I, Augustine L, Lyyra N, Deforche B, De Clercq B, Stevens GWJM, Currie C. National-Level Wealth Inequality and Socioeconomic Inequality in Adolescent Mental Well-Being: A Time Series Analysis of 17 Countries. J Adolesc Health 2020; 66:S21-S28. [PMID: 32446605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although previous research has established a positive association between national income inequality and socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health, very little is known about the extent to which national-level wealth inequalities (i.e., accumulated financial resources) are associated with these inequalities in health. Therefore, this study examined the association between national wealth inequality and income inequality and socioeconomic inequality in adolescents' mental well-being at the aggregated level. METHODS Data were from 17 countries participating in three consecutive waves (2010, 2014, and 2018) of the cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. We aggregated data on adolescents' life satisfaction, psychological and somatic symptoms, and socioeconomic status (SES) to produce a country-level slope index of inequality and combined it with country-level data on income inequality and wealth inequality (n = 244,771). Time series analyses were performed on a pooled sample of 48 country-year groups. RESULTS Higher levels of national wealth inequality were associated with fewer average psychological and somatic symptoms, while higher levels of national income inequality were associated with more psychological and somatic symptoms. No associations between either national wealth inequality or income inequality and life satisfaction were found. Smaller differences in somatic symptoms between higher and lower SES groups were found in countries with higher levels of national wealth inequality. In contrast, larger differences in psychological symptoms and life satisfaction (but not somatic symptoms) between higher and lower SES groups were found in countries with higher levels of national income inequality. CONCLUSIONS Although both national wealth and income inequality are associated with socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent mental well-being at the aggregated level, associations are in opposite directions. Social policies aimed at a redistribution of income resources at the national level could decrease socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent mental well-being while further research is warranted to gain a better understanding of the role of national wealth inequality in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Dierckens
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Dominic Weinberg
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Yanyan Huang
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Frank Elgar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Irene Moor
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Salle), Germany
| | - Lilly Augustine
- Department of Pedagogy and Psychology, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Nelli Lyyra
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gonneke W J M Stevens
- Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Candace Currie
- Global Adolescent Health and Behaviour Research Unit, GCU London, London, United Kingdom
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Van Cauwenberg J, De Clercq B, Deforche B, Cardon G, Chastin SFM. Accuracy and inequalities in physical activity research. Lancet Glob Health 2020; 7:e183-e184. [PMID: 30683232 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30514-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jelle Van Cauwenberg
- Department of Public Health, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Greet Cardon
- Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Sebastien F M Chastin
- Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent 9000, Belgium; Institute for Applied Health Research, School of Health and Life Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
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Johansson K, Petersen S, Högberg B, Stevens GWJM, De Clercq B, Frasquilho D, Elgar F, Strandh M. The interplay between national and parental unemployment in relation to adolescent life satisfaction in 27 countries: analyses of repeated cross-sectional school surveys. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:1555. [PMID: 31775833 PMCID: PMC6882305 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7721-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research shows that parental unemployment is associated with low life satisfaction in adolescents. It is unclear whether this translates to an association between national unemployment and adolescent life satisfaction, and whether such a contextual association is entirely explained by parental unemployment, or if it changes as a function thereof. For adults, associations have been shown between unemployment and mental health, including that national unemployment can affect mental health and life satisfaction of both the employed and the unemployed, but to different degrees. The aim of this paper is to analyse how national unemployment levels are related to adolescent life satisfaction, across countries as well as over time within a country, and to what extent and in what ways such an association depends on whether the individual's own parents are unemployed or not. METHODS Repeated cross-sectional data on adolescents' (aged 11, 13 and 15 years, n = 386,402) life satisfaction and parental unemployment were collected in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, in 27 countries and 74 country-years, across 2001/02, 2005/06 and 2009/10 survey cycles. We linked this data to national harmonised unemployment rates provided by OECD and tested their associations using multilevel linear regression, including interaction terms between national and parental unemployment. RESULTS Higher national unemployment rates were related to lower adolescent life satisfaction, cross-sectionally between countries but not over time within countries. The verified association was significant for adolescents with and without unemployed parents, but stronger so in adolescents with unemployed fathers or both parents unemployed. Having an unemployed father, mother och both parents was in itself related to lower life satisfaction. CONCLUSION Living in a country with higher national unemployment seems to be related to lower adolescent life satisfaction, whether parents are unemployed or not, although stronger among adolescents where the father or both parents are unemployed. However, variation in unemployment over the years did not show an association with adolescent life satisfaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Johansson
- Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Solveig Petersen
- Department of Global Health and Epidemiology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Björn Högberg
- Department of Social Work, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Gonneke W J M Stevens
- Centre for Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Diana Frasquilho
- Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frank Elgar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Vandendriessche A, Ghekiere A, Van Cauwenberg J, De Clercq B, Dhondt K, DeSmet A, Tynjälä J, Verloigne M, Deforche B. Does Sleep Mediate the Association between School Pressure, Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Psychological Symptoms in Early Adolescents? A 12-Country Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:ijerph16061072. [PMID: 30934658 PMCID: PMC6466024 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16061072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the mediating role of sleep duration and sleep onset difficulties in the association of school pressure, physical activity, and screen time with psychological symptoms in early adolescents. Data were retrieved from 49,403 children (13.7 ± 1.6 years old, 48.1% boys) from 12 countries participating in the World Health Organization (WHO) “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children” 2013/2014 study. A validated self-report questionnaire assessed psychological symptoms (feeling low, irritability or bad temper, feeling nervous), school pressure, physical activity (number of days/week 60 min moderate-to-vigorous), screen time, sleep duration on week- and weekend days, and perceived difficulties in getting asleep. Multilevel mediation analyses were conducted. School pressure and screen time were positively associated with psychological symptoms, whereas physical activity was negatively associated. With the exception of sleep duration in the association between physical activity and psychological symptoms, all associations were significantly mediated by sleep duration on week- and weekend days and sleep onset difficulties. Percentages mediated ranged from 0.66% to 34.13%. This study partly explains how school pressure, physical activity, and screen time are related to adolescents’ psychological symptoms. Future interventions improving adolescents’ mental well-being could target schoolwork, physical activity, and screen time, as these behaviours are directly and indirectly (through sleep) related to psychological symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Vandendriessche
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ariane Ghekiere
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jelle Van Cauwenberg
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
- Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Karlien Dhondt
- Department of Psychiatry: Pedicatric Sleep Center, Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ann DeSmet
- Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jorma Tynjälä
- Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, PO Box 35, FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
| | - Maïté Verloigne
- Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium.
- Department of Movement and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 4K3, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
- Physical Activity, Nutrition and Health Research Unit, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Vilhjalmsdottir A, De Clercq B, Gardarsdottir RB, Bernburg JG, Sigfusdottir ID. Decreasing income inequality and adolescent emotional distress: a population-based case study of Icelandic adolescents 2006-2016. Int J Public Health 2019; 64:253-263. [PMID: 30617501 DOI: 10.1007/s00038-018-1193-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In this study, we aim to test whether changes in community income inequality influence adolescent emotional distress. We take advantage of the unique combination of data and history available in Iceland. This affluent welfare society has experienced extreme shifts in income inequality, allowing us to test whether changes in community income inequality are related to changes in adolescent emotional distress. METHODS Combining adolescent survey data (n = 24,107) with tax registry data on 76 neighborhood communities, we used a multilevel approach to model the data as longitudinal in order to test whether changes in community income inequality are related to changes in symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents. RESULTS The results showed that, after adjusting for relevant individual and community covariates, decreases in community income inequality were associated with decreases in symptoms of anxiety among adolescents (b = - 0.367, p ≤ 0.001), but not with decreases in symptoms of depression. CONCLUSIONS While the results provide a partial support for the income inequality thesis, we call for replications from other cultures and studies exploring the mediating role of social psychological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Academical Hospital, Ghent University, K3-4, De Pintelaan, 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Jon Gunnar Bernburg
- Faculty of Social Science, University of Iceland, Oddi, 101, Reykjavík, Iceland
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Janssens H, Braeckman L, Vlerick P, Van de Ven B, De Clercq B, Clays E. The relation between social capital and burnout: a longitudinal study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2018; 91:1001-1009. [PMID: 30019175 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-018-1341-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Although social capital approach has showed its merits in predicting well-being and health in the working environment, studies examining the relation between social capital and burnout are scarce and limited to cross-sectional studies in the health care sector. This study aims to explore the longitudinal relationship between workplace social capital and burnout in a Belgian company in the energy sector. An additional aim was to assess whether the relation between workplace social capital and the dimensions of burnout was independent of job characteristics, i.e., the level of decision-making autonomy and task variety, and demographical variables. METHODS Analyses are conducted on the questionnaire data of 473 workers who participated at the two waves (2013 and 2014) of a longitudinal study. RESULTS The results showed a negative relation between social capital and distance and a positive relation between social capital and competence, after 1-year follow-up and after adjustments for baseline levels of the respective burnout dimension. In contrast with the literature, no relation between social capital and emotional exhaustion was found after adjustment for baseline level of emotional exhaustion. After additional adjustments were made for the job characteristics 'decision-making autonomy' and 'task variety', the relation between social capital and competence disappeared. CONCLUSIONS This study delivered evidence for the lagged relation between social capital and distance, even after controlling for demographical and job characteristics. Therefore, the findings suggest that organizations should pay attention to strategies enhancing social interaction, enabling to increase the levels of support, reciprocity, sharing and trust, in the prevention of burnout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Janssens
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. .,Provikmo, Occupational Health Services, Dirk Martensstraat 26, B-8200, Bruges, Belgium.
| | | | - Peter Vlerick
- Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organizational Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart Van de Ven
- Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organizational Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Kokko S, Martin L, Geidne S, Van Hoye A, Lane A, Meganck J, Scheerder J, Seghers J, Villberg J, Kudlacek M, Badura P, Mononen K, Blomqvist M, De Clercq B, Koski P. Does sports club participation contribute to physical activity among children and adolescents? A comparison across six European countries. Scand J Public Health 2018; 47:851-858. [PMID: 29999480 DOI: 10.1177/1403494818786110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Aims: Insufficient physical activity (PA) is one of the largest public health challenges of our time and requires a multisectoral public-health response. PA recommendations state that all children and adolescents should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) daily and carry out vigorous PA (VPA) three times weekly. While participation in sports club activities is known to enhance the probability of reaching the recommended overall PA level, less is known about the contribution of sports club participation to VPA, and few cross-national comparisons have been carried out. The purpose of this paper is to study whether participation in sports club activities is associated with meeting the overall PA and VPA recommendations among children and adolescents across six European countries, namely Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland and Sweden. Methods: Analyses were carried out on existing self-reported national data sets using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: Results indicate that approximately two-thirds of children and adolescents take part in sports club activities in the given countries. Sports club participants were more likely to meet the overall PA recommendations (OR 2.4-6.4) and VPA recommendation (OR 2.8-5.0) than non-participants. Conclusions: The extent to which overall PA and/or VPA is gained through sports club participation versus other settings needs to be further studied. Nonetheless, it can be argued that sports clubs have an important position in PA promotion for younger populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Kokko
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Leena Martin
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | | | | | - Aoife Lane
- Department of Sport and Health Science, Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland
| | - Jeroen Meganck
- Department of Movement Sciences, Physical Activity, Sports & Health Research Group, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Scheerder
- Department of Movement Sciences, Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Seghers
- Department of Movement Sciences, Physical Activity, Sports & Health Research Group, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jari Villberg
- Research Centre for Health Promotion, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Michal Kudlacek
- Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Palacký University, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Badura
- Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, Czech Republic
| | - Kaisu Mononen
- KIHU - Research Institute for Olympic Sports, Finland
| | | | - Bart De Clercq
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Pasi Koski
- Department of Teacher Education, University of Turku, Finland
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Hobza V, Hamrik Z, Bucksch J, De Clercq B. The Family Affluence Scale as an Indicator for Socioeconomic Status: Validation on Regional Income Differences in the Czech Republic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017; 14:ijerph14121540. [PMID: 29292773 PMCID: PMC5750958 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14121540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Revised: 11/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study (HBSC) uses the Family Affluence Scale (FAS) as a tool to identify the socioeconomic status of children and adolescents. Even though it is now widely applied in research studies, the external criterion validation of FAS has not been verified in terms of objective economic indicators in Central Europe. The aim of this study is to validate FAS in terms of disposable income per capita in 14 Czech administrative regions. Regional differences in the FAS score were analyzed using Pearson correlation and linear regression to measure the dependency of the aggregated mean of the FAS index at the regional level on data from the Czech HSBC survey carried out from April to June 2014 (n = 10,361). The data analysis has shown an overall positive correlation between the FAS index and regional disposable income (R = 0.77, p < 0.01). The regional disposable income per person could explain 59.7% of the variance in the FAS index (p < 0.01). By validating individual items, the authors identified three items with a significant correlation (p < 0.01): number of computers, dishwasher at home, and number of holidays. FAS seems to be a valid instrument to measure adolescents’ socioeconomic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Hobza
- Faculty of Physical Culture, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 47 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdenek Hamrik
- Faculty of Physical Culture, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Palacky University Olomouc, 771 47 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Jens Bucksch
- Department of Natural and Human Sciences, University of Education Heidelberg, D-69032 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
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14
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Janssens H, Braeckman L, De Clercq B, De Bacquer D, Clays E. The relation between indicators of low employment quality and attendance behavior in countries of the European Union. J Public Health (Oxf) 2017; 39:e127-e133. [PMID: 27744375 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdw112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous research demonstrated an association between low employment quality and lower sickness absence, which may be explained by presenteeism. Therefore, this study aimed exploring the relation between three indicators of employment quality (long working hours, precarious employment, job insecurity) and attendance behavior. Methods The association between employment quality and attendance behavior was investigated in 28.999 workers (mean age: 40.0 years, 53% males) of the fifth wave of the European Working Conditions Survey, using multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis. Attendance behavior was operationalized as different combinations of sickness absence and presenteeism. Results Those working >48 h/week, had a higher risk to report presenteeism (with or without sickness absence). They had a lower risk to report sickness absence without presenteeism. Workers with a precarious contract had a lower risk to report absenteeism without presenteeism and the combination of both presenteeism and absenteeism. Finally, for workers perceiving job insecurity, the risk for presenteeism without sickness absence was significantly higher. Conclusions Several indicators of low employment quality were associated with attendance behavior, suggesting a complex behavioral mechanism in workers facing low job quality employment. Therefore, policy makers are recommended to re-establish the indefinite contractual employment as the standard, avoiding long working hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Janssens
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3 B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lutgart Braeckman
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3 B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3 B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk De Bacquer
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3 B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 4K3 B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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15
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De Clercq B, Abel T, Moor I, Elgar FJ, Lievens J, Sioen I, Braeckman L, Deforche B. Social inequality in adolescents' healthy food intake: the interplay between economic, social and cultural capital. Eur J Public Health 2017; 27:279-286. [PMID: 28040734 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckw236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Current explanations of health inequalities in adolescents focus on behavourial and economic determinants and rarely include more meaningful forms of economic, cultural, and social capital. The aim of the study was to investigate how the interplay between capitals constitutes social inequalities in adolescent healthy food intake. Methods Data were collected in the 2013/14 Flemish Health Behavior among School-aged Children (HBSC) survey, which is part of the international WHO HBSC survey. The total sample included 7266 adolescents aged 12-18. A comprehensive set of 58 capital indicators was used to measure economic, cultural and social capital and a healthy food index was computed from a 17-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess the consumption frequency of healthy food within the overall food intake. Results The different forms of capital were unequally distributed in accordance with the subdivisions within the education system. Only half of the capital indicators positively related to healthy food intake, and instead 17 interactions were found that both increased or reduced inequalities. Cultural capital was a crucial component for explaining inequalities such that social gradients in healthy food intake increased when adolescents participated in elite cultural practices ( P < 0.05), and were consequently reduced when adolescents reported to have a high number of books at home ( P < 0.05). Conclusion A combination of selected resources in the form of economic, cultural and social capital may both increase or reduce healthy food intake inequalities in adolescents. Policy action needs to take into account the unequal distribution of these resources within the education system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart De Clercq
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Academical Hospital, 4K3, De Pintelaan, 185, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Abel
- Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Irene Moor
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Martin Luther University, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Frank J Elgar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy and Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - John Lievens
- Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lutgart Braeckman
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Academical Hospital, 4K3, De Pintelaan, 185, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Academical Hospital, 4K3, De Pintelaan, 185, Ghent, Belgium
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16
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Van Damme J, Hublet A, De Clercq B, Kuntsche E, Maes L, Clays E. Who does not cut down? Comparing characteristics and drinking motives of drinkers and abstainers during the exam periods. J Am Coll Health 2017; 65:558-566. [PMID: 28777733 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2017.1356311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Drinking alcohol during the exams can affect academic performance and future career options, but is rarely investigated. Drinking motives, sociodemographics and personality characteristics are investigated in nonabstainers and weekly drinkers during the exams. PARTICIPANTS 7,181 Belgian university students who anonymously responded to an email invitation to an online survey. METHODS Logistic regressions and mixed design analysis of variance on cross-sectional data. RESULTS One-third of the students continued drinking during the exams, with 40% drinking weekly. Nonabstainers were mainly men, elder, internally motivated when drinking, and housed with parents or independently. Weekly drinkers were similar, except mainly housed in student apartments or independently. Personality characteristics were nonsignificant. All drinking motives were less pronounced during the exams, with smaller differences for internal motives. CONCLUSIONS Mainly linked to internal drinking motives, drinking during the exams in higher education is underestimated. The characteristics and motives of students doing so can be used in future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris Van Damme
- a Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Gent , Belgium
| | - Anne Hublet
- a Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Gent , Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- a Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Gent , Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Kuntsche
- b Addiction Info Switzerland, Research Institute , Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Lea Maes
- a Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Gent , Belgium
| | - Els Clays
- a Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Gent , Belgium
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17
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Alali H, Braeckman L, Van Hecke T, De Clercq B, Janssens H, Wahab MA. Relationship between non-standard work arrangements and work-related accident absence in Belgium. J Occup Health 2017; 59:177-186. [PMID: 28111414 PMCID: PMC5478515 DOI: 10.1539/joh.16-0119-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between indicators of non-standard work arrangements, including precarious contract, long working hours, multiple jobs, shift work, and work-related accident absence, using a representative Belgian sample and considering several socio-demographic and work characteristics. Methods: This study was based on the data of the fifth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS). For the analysis, the sample was restricted to 3343 respondents from Belgium who were all employed workers. The associations between non-standard work arrangements and work-related accident absence were studied with multivariate logistic regression modeling techniques while adjusting for several confounders. Results: During the last 12 months, about 11.7% of workers were absent from work because of work-related accident. A multivariate regression model showed an increased injury risk for those performing shift work (OR 1.546, 95% CI 1.074-2.224). The relationship between contract type and occupational injuries was not significant (OR 1.163, 95% CI 0.739-1.831). Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed for those performing long working hours (OR 1.217, 95% CI 0.638-2.321) and those performing multiple jobs (OR 1.361, 95% CI 0.827-2.240) in relation to work-related accident absence. Those who rated their health as bad, low educated workers, workers from the construction sector, and those exposed to biomechanical exposure (BM) were more frequent victims of work-related accident absence. No significant gender difference was observed. Conclusion: Indicators of non-standard work arrangements under this study, except shift work, were not significantly associated with work-related accident absence. To reduce the burden of occupational injuries, not only risk reduction strategies and interventions are needed but also policy efforts are to be undertaken to limit shift work. In general, preventive measures and more training on the job are needed to ensure the safety and well-being of all workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Alali
- Department of Electrical Energy, Systems and Automation, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University
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Buijs T, Maes L, Salonna F, Van Damme J, Hublet A, Kebza V, Costongs C, Currie C, De Clercq B. The role of community social capital in the relationship between socioeconomic status and adolescent life satisfaction: mediating or moderating? Evidence from Czech data. Int J Equity Health 2016; 15:203. [PMID: 27955660 PMCID: PMC5154096 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-016-0490-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of social capital has been extensively used to explain the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and adolescent health and well-being. Much less is known about the specific mechanism through which social capital impacts the relationship. This paper investigates whether an individual's perception of community social capital moderates or mediates the association between SES and life satisfaction. METHODS This study employs cross-sectional data from the 2009-2010 Czech Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey: a WHO Collaborative Cross-National Study (HBSC). A sample of 4425 adolescents from the 5th, 7th and 9th grade (94.5% school response rate, 87% student response) was used to perform multilevel analysis. RESULTS We found that pupils' life satisfaction was positively related to both family affluence and perceived wealth. Moreover, we found the cognitive component of social capital to be positively associated with life satisfaction. Additionally, a significant interaction was found, such that the social gradient in life satisfaction was flattened when pupils reported high levels of perceived community social capital. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that community social capital acts as an unequal health resource for adolescents, but could potentially represent opportunities for public health policy to close the gap in socioeconomic disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Buijs
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lea Maes
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ferdinand Salonna
- Institute of Active Lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University in Olomouc, Tr. Miru 15, Olomouc, 77111, Czech Republic.
| | - Joris Van Damme
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne Hublet
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vladimir Kebza
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, Ovocný trh 3-5, 116 36, Praha 1, Czech Republic
| | | | - Candace Currie
- School of Medicine, Medical & Biological Sciences, University of St. Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9TF, UK
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
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Janssens H, Braeckman L, De Clercq B, Casini A, De Bacquer D, Kittel F, Clays E. The indirect association of job strain with long-term sickness absence through bullying: a mediation analysis using structural equation modeling. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:851. [PMID: 27549206 PMCID: PMC4994183 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3522-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this longitudinal study the complex interplay between both job strain and bullying in relation to sickness absence was investigated. Following the "work environment hypothesis", which establishes several work characteristics as antecedents of bullying, we assumed that job strain, conceptualized by the Job-Demand-Control model, has an indirect relation with long-term sickness absence through bullying. METHODS The sample consisted of 2983 Belgian workers, aged 30 to 55 years, who participated in the Belstress III study. They completed a survey, including the Job Content Questionnaire and a bullying inventory, at baseline. Their sickness absence figures were registered during 1 year follow-up. Long-term sickness absence was defined as at least 15 consecutive days. A mediation analysis, using structural equation modeling, was performed to examine the indirect association of job strain through bullying with long-term sickness absence. The full structural model was adjusted for several possible confounders: age, gender, occupational group, educational level, company, smoking habits, alcohol use, body mass index, self-rated health, baseline long-term sickness absence and neuroticism. RESULTS The results support the hypothesis: a significant indirect association of job strain with long-term sickness absence through bullying was observed, suggesting that bullying is an intermediate variable between job strain and long-term sickness absence. No evidence for the reversed pathway of an indirect association of bullying through job strain was found. CONCLUSIONS Bullying was observed as a mediating variable in the relation between job strain and sickness absence. The results suggest that exposure to job strain may create circumstances in which a worker risks to become a target of bullying. Our findings are generally in line with the work environment hypothesis, which emphasizes the importance of organizational work factors in the origin of bullying. This study highlights that remodeling jobs to reduce job strain may be important in the prevention of bullying and subsequent sickness absence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Janssens
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital, block 4k3, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lutgart Braeckman
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital, block 4k3, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital, block 4k3, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annalisa Casini
- Research Centre Social approaches of Health, School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Dirk De Bacquer
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital, block 4k3, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - France Kittel
- Research Centre Social approaches of Health, School of Public Health, Université libre de Bruxelles, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, University Hospital, block 4k3, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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De Cock N, Van Lippevelde W, Goossens L, De Clercq B, Vangeel J, Lachat C, Beullens K, Huybregts L, Vervoort L, Eggermont S, Maes L, Braet C, Deforche B, Kolsteren P, Van Camp J. Sensitivity to reward and adolescents' unhealthy snacking and drinking behavior: the role of hedonic eating styles and availability. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2016; 13:17. [PMID: 26861539 PMCID: PMC4748632 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-016-0341-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although previous research found a positive association between sensitivity to reward (SR) and adolescents’ unhealthy snacking and drinking behavior, mechanisms explaining these associations remain to be explored. The present study will therefore examine whether the associations between SR and unhealthy snack and/or sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake are mediated by external and/or emotional eating and if this mediation is moderated by availability at home or at school. Methods Cross-sectional data on snacking, availability of snacks at home and at school, SR (BAS drive scale) and external and emotional eating (Dutch eating behavior questionnaire) of Flemish adolescents (n = 1104, mean age = 14.7 ± 0.8 years; 51 % boys; 18.0 % overweight) in 20 schools spread across Flanders were collected. Moderated mediation analyses were conducted using generalized structural equation modeling in three steps: (1) direct association between SR and unhealthy snack or SSB intake, (2) mediation of either external or emotional eating and (3) interaction of home or school availability and emotional or external eating. Results Partial mediation of external eating (a*b = 0.69, p < 0.05) and of emotional eating (a*b = 0.92, p < 0.01) in the relation between SR and intake of unhealthy snacks was found (step 2). The relation between SR and SSB intake was not mediated by external or emotional eating (step 2). No moderation effects of home or school availability were found (step 3). Conclusion Our findings indicate that the association between SR and the consumption of unhealthy snacks is partially explained by external and emotional eating in a population-based sample of adolescents irrespective of the home or school availability of these foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie De Cock
- Department of Food safety and Food quality, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Wendy Van Lippevelde
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185A, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Lien Goossens
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185A, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Jolien Vangeel
- Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, KU Leuven, Parkstraat 45 -box 3603, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Carl Lachat
- Department of Food safety and Food quality, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Kathleen Beullens
- Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, KU Leuven, Parkstraat 45 -box 3603, Leuven, Belgium. .,Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Egmontstraat 5, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Lieven Huybregts
- Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division International Food Policy Research Institute, 2033 K Street, 20006, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Leentje Vervoort
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Steven Eggermont
- Leuven School for Mass Communication Research, KU Leuven, Parkstraat 45 -box 3603, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Lea Maes
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185A, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Caroline Braet
- Department of Developmental, Personality and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Benedicte Deforche
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185A, Ghent, Belgium. .,Department of Human Biometry and Biomechanics, Faculty of Physical Education and Physical Therapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Patrick Kolsteren
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - John Van Camp
- Department of Food safety and Food quality, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium.
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De Clercq B, Clays E, Janssens H, De Bacquer D, Casini A, Kittel F, Braeckman L. Correction: Health Behaviours As a Mechanism in the Prospective Relation between Workplace Reciprocity and Absenteeism: A Bridge too Far? PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144396. [PMID: 26624997 PMCID: PMC4666438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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22
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Van Damme J, Hublet A, De Clercq B, McAlaney J, Van Hal G, Rosiers J, Maes L, Clays E. Context matters: faculty norms on binge drinking relate to binge drinking behaviour in higher education. Arch Public Health 2015. [PMCID: PMC4582255 DOI: 10.1186/2049-3258-73-s1-p13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Alali H, Wahab MA, Van Hecke T, De Clercq B, Janssens H, Braeckman L. Relationships between irregular work arrangements and occupational injuries in EU 27. Findings from the fifth European working condition survey. Arch Public Health 2015. [PMCID: PMC4582352 DOI: 10.1186/2049-3258-73-s1-p20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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De Clercq B, Clays E, Janssens H, De Bacquer D, Casini A, Kittel F, Braeckman L. Health Behaviours As a Mechanism in the Prospective Relation between Workplace Reciprocity and Absenteeism: A Bridge too Far ? PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141608. [PMID: 26524011 PMCID: PMC4629877 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The persistent lack of evidence on causal mechanisms between social capital and health threatens the credibility of the social capital-health association. The present study aims to address this ongoing problem by investigating whether health behaviours (i.e. smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity) mediate the prospective relation between workplace reciprocity and future sickness absence. METHODS A cohort of 24,402 Belgian employees was followed up during 12 months for sickness absence. Workplace reciprocity was measured with four indicators-colleague help, colleague interest, supervisor help, and supervisor concern. Three types of multilevel mediation models were applied. RESULTS Overall, workplace reciprocity negatively related to high sickness absence (≥ 10 days) mainly independently from health behaviours. Uniquely, colleague interest positively related to smoking (OR = 1.058, 95% CI = 1.019, 1.098) and smoking in turn, positively related to sickness absence (OR = 1.074, 95% CI = 1.047, 1.101). No behavioural pathways could be identified between company-level reciprocity and sickness absence, and company-level health-related behaviours did not mediate the relation between company-level reciprocity and individual sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that both social capital and health behaviours are relevant for employee health, but health behaviours seem not to be the underlying explanatory mechanism between workplace reciprocity and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Heidi Janssens
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk De Bacquer
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annalisa Casini
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - France Kittel
- Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
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Elgar FJ, Pförtner TK, Moor I, De Clercq B, Stevens GWJM, Currie C. Socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health 2002-2010: a time-series analysis of 34 countries participating in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Lancet 2015; 385:2088-95. [PMID: 25659283 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(14)61460-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information about trends in adolescent health inequalities is scarce, especially at an international level. We examined secular trends in socioeconomic inequality in five domains of adolescent health and the association of socioeconomic inequality with national wealth and income inequality. METHODS We undertook a time-series analysis of data from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study, in which cross-sectional surveys were done in 34 North American and European countries in 2002, 2006, and 2010 (pooled n 492,788). We used individual data for socioeconomic status (Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Family Affluence Scale) and health (days of physical activity per week, body-mass index Z score [zBMI], frequency of psychological and physical symptoms on 0-5 scale, and life satisfaction scored 0-10 on the Cantril ladder) to examine trends in health and socioeconomic inequalities in health. We also investigated whether international differences in health and health inequalities were associated with per person income and income inequality. FINDINGS From 2002 to 2010, average levels of physical activity (3·90 to 4·08 days per week; p<0·0001), body mass (zBMI -0·08 to 0·03; p<0·0001), and physical symptoms (3·06 to 3·20, p<0·0001), and life satisfaction (7·58 to 7·61; p=0·0034) slightly increased. Inequalities between socioeconomic groups increased in physical activity (-0·79 to -0·83 days per week difference between most and least affluent groups; p=0·0008), zBMI (0·15 to 0·18; p<0·0001), and psychological (0·58 to 0·67; p=0·0360) and physical (0·21 to 0·26; p=0·0018) symptoms. Only in life satisfaction did health inequality fall during this period (-0·98 to -0·95; p=0·0198). Internationally, the higher the per person income, the better and more equal health was in terms of physical activity (0·06 days per SD increase in income; p<0·0001), psychological symptoms (-0·09; p<0·0001), and life satisfaction (0·08; p<0·0001). However, higher income inequality uniquely related to fewer days of physical activity (-0·05 days; p=0·0295), higher zBMI (0·06; p<0·0001), more psychological (0·18; p<0·0001) and physical (0·16; p<0·0001) symptoms, and larger health inequalities between socioeconomic groups in psychological (0·13; p=0·0080) and physical (0·07; p=0·0022) symptoms, and life satisfaction (-0·10; p=0·0092). INTERPRETATION Socioeconomic inequality has increased in many domains of adolescent health. These trends coincide with unequal distribution of income between rich and poor people. Widening gaps in adolescent health could predict future inequalities in adult health and need urgent policy action. FUNDING Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank J Elgar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, and Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Timo-Kolja Pförtner
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Irene Moor
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gonneke W J M Stevens
- Utrecht Centre for Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Candace Currie
- Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
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26
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Van Damme J, Maes L, Kuntsche E, Crutzen R, De Clercq B, Van Lippevelde W, Hublet A. The influence of parental drinking on offspring's drinking motives and drinking: a mediation analysis on 9 year follow-up data. Drug Alcohol Depend 2015; 149:63-70. [PMID: 25680515 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The influence of parental drinking on offspring's drinking is well-documented. However, longitudinal evidence on the mediating role of drinking motives in this relationship is lacking. This study longitudinally investigates the mediating role of drinking motives in the relationship between parental and offspring's drinking. METHODS Using a prospective design, 587 Flemish children (response 30.0%) were followed for 9 years. Parental drinking was documented during the offspring's late childhood (10 and 11 years old) through paper-and-pencil questionnaires distributed by schools. The offspring's drinking habits and -motives were documented in early adulthood (18 and 19 year old) through a web-based questionnaire; invitations were sent by letter. Motives were measured using the Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised Short-form, and mediation analyses were conducted with the product of coefficient test using bootstrapping. RESULTS Half the offspring were female (53.8%) and the mean age was 19.35 (SD = 0.52) years. A significant direct effect of maternal drinking during childhood on offspring drinking nine years later was found (β = 0.091, t = 2.071, p = 0.039). However, the association turned non-significant after stratifying the model for boys and girls. No direct effect was found for paternal drinking on offspring's drinking. Nevertheless, paternal drinking indirectly affected offspring's drinking through offspring's enhancement motives (β = 0.041, 95%CI[0.004, 0.082]) and maternal drinking indirectly affected male offspring's drinking through offspring's social motives (β = 0.067, 95%CI[0.007, 0.148]). CONCLUSION These results show that parental drinking during late childhood relates to a high level of those drinking motives among young adults that are known risk factors for heavy drinking in early adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joris Van Damme
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Lea Maes
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Emmanuel Kuntsche
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104 NL , 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Addiction Switzerland, Research Institute, PO Box 870, Av. Ruchonnet 14, CH-1001 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Rik Crutzen
- School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Bart De Clercq
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Wendy Van Lippevelde
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Anne Hublet
- Unit Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, K3, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
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De Clercq B, Pfoertner TK, Elgar FJ, Hublet A, Maes L. Social capital and adolescent smoking in schools and communities: A cross-classified multilevel analysis. Soc Sci Med 2014; 119:81-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 08/12/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Janssens H, Clays E, De Clercq B, De Bacquer D, Braeckman L. The Relation between Presenteeism and Different Types of Future Sickness Absence. J Occup Health 2013; 55:132-41. [DOI: 10.1539/joh.12-0164-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Els Clays
- Department of Public HealthGhent UniversityBelgium
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Elgar FJ, De Clercq B, Schnohr CW, Bird P, Pickett KE, Torsheim T, Hofmann F, Currie C. Absolute and relative family affluence and psychosomatic symptoms in adolescents. Soc Sci Med 2013; 91:25-31. [PMID: 23849235 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Previous research on the links between income inequality and health and socioeconomic differences in health suggests that relative differences in affluence impact health and well-being more than absolute affluence. This study explored whether self-reported psychosomatic symptoms in adolescents relate more closely to relative affluence (i.e., relative deprivation or rank affluence within regions or schools) than to absolute affluence. Data on family material assets and psychosomatic symptoms were collected from 48,523 adolescents in eight countries (Austria, Belgium, Canada, Norway, Scotland, Poland, Turkey, and Ukraine) as part of the 2009/10 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Multilevel regression analyses of the data showed that relative deprivation (Yitzhaki Index, calculated in regions and in schools) and rank affluence (in regions) (1) related more closely to symptoms than absolute affluence, and (2) related to symptoms after differences in absolute affluence were held constant. However, differences in family material assets, whether they are measured in absolute or relative terms, account for a significant variation in adolescent psychosomatic symptoms. Conceptual and empirical issues relating to the use of material affluence indices to estimate socioeconomic position are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank J Elgar
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, McGill University, 1130 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Canada.
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30
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Vyncke V, De Clercq B, Stevens V, Costongs C, Barbareschi G, Jónsson SH, Curvo SD, Kebza V, Currie C, Maes L. Does neighbourhood social capital aid in levelling the social gradient in the health and well-being of children and adolescents? A literature review. BMC Public Health 2013; 13:65. [PMID: 23339776 PMCID: PMC3574053 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although most countries in the European Union are richer and healthier than ever, health inequalities remain an important public health challenge. Health-related problems and premature death have disproportionately been reported in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood social capital is believed to influence the association between neighbourhood deprivation and health in children and adolescents, making it a potentially interesting concept for policymakers. Methods This study aims to review the role of social capital in health inequalities and the social gradient in health and well-being of children and adolescents. A systematic review of published quantitative literature was conducted, focussing on (1) the mediating role of neighbourhood social capital in the relationship between socio-economic status (SES) and health-related outcomes in children and adolescents and (2) the interaction between neighbourhood social capital and socio-economic characteristics in relation to health-related outcomes in children and adolescents. Three electronic databases were searched. Studies executed between 1 January 1990 and 1 September 2011 in Western countries (USA, New Zealand, Australia and Europe) that included a health-related outcome in children or adolescents and a variable that measured neighbourhood social capital were included. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. The findings are mixed. Only two of five studies confirmed that neighbourhood social capital mediates the association between neighbourhood deprivation and health and well-being in adolescents. Furthermore, two studies found a significant interaction between neighbourhood socio-economic factors and neighbourhood social capital, which indicates that neighbourhood social capital is especially beneficial for children who reside in deprived neighbourhoods. However, two other studies did not find a significant interaction between SES and neighbourhood social capital. Due to the broad range of studied health-related outcomes, the different operationalisations of neighbourhood social capital and the conceptual overlap between measures of SES and social capital in some studies, the factors that explain these differences in findings remain unclear. Conclusions Although the findings of this study should be interpreted with caution, the results suggest that neighbourhood social capital might play a role in the health gradient among children and adolescents. However, only two of the included studies were conducted in Europe. Furthermore, some studies focussed on specific populations and minority groups. To formulate relevant European policy recommendations, further European-focussed research on this issue is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Vyncke
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185 blok A, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
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Valev VK, Clercq BD, Zheng X, Denkova D, Osley EJ, Vandendriessche S, Silhanek AV, Volskiy V, Warburton PA, Vandenbosch GAE, Ameloot M, Moshchalkov VV, Verbiest T. The role of chiral local field enhancements below the resolution limit of Second Harmonic Generation microscopy. Opt Express 2012; 20:256-264. [PMID: 22274348 DOI: 10.1364/oe.20.000256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
While it has been demonstrated that, above its resolution limit, Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) microscopy can map chiral local field enhancements, below that limit, structural defects were found to play a major role. Here we show that, even below the resolution limit, the contributions from chiral local field enhancements to the SHG signal can dominate over those by structural defects. We report highly homogeneous SHG micrographs of star-shaped gold nanostructures, where the SHG circular dichroism effect is clearly visible from virtually every single nanostructure. Most likely, size and geometry determine the dominant contributions to the SHG signal in nanostructured systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- V K Valev
- Molecular Electronics and Photonics, INPAC, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200 D, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium.
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Vanrolleghem PA, Clercq BD, Clercq JD, Devisscher M, Kinnear DJ, Nopens I. New measurement techniques for secondary settlers: a review. Water Sci Technol 2006; 53:419-29. [PMID: 16722094 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2006.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In activated sludge wastewater treatment research, most of the attention has been devoted to the biodegradation process. However, in terms of effluent quality, the final settling and clarification processes are at least as important because any particle carried over the overflow weir brings with it not only COD, but also nitrogen and phosphorus. In recent years we see indeed increased attention on this separation step, and alternatives such as membrane separation are increasingly introduced. Still, a large installed base of settlers exists, whose operation could/should be optimised. The measurement techniques presented in this contribution each focus on one of the key processes in the secondary settler: hydrodynamics, particle aggregation and breakage, hindered settling and compression. For each technique, the measuring principle is explained and a typical data set shown.
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Affiliation(s)
- P A Vanrolleghem
- BIOMAT, Department of Applied Mathematics, Biometrics and Process Control, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
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