Intersectionality on the perception of health in two cross-national surveys (WVS and EVS)

Abstract

This article focuses on the health perceptions of people across social strata and nations using the combined dataset of the World Values Survey and the European Values Study (EVS/WVS). An intercategorical intersectional analysis model was developed to examine the social determinants underlying differences in health perceptions. Using logistic regression of the interactions between sex, age, level of educational attainment and income, we calculated the impact of these variables (main effects) and their interactions within the intersecting categories on health perceptions. The group with the best perception of their health includes men aged 16-49, with a high income and an upper-middle level of education. Comparative analysis has been carried out to identify differences in the influence of intersectional categories across countries. Of particular relevance is the number of Eastern European countries where the perception of people aged 50 and over with low income is very poor.

Keywords: Intercategorical intersectional analysis; Perceived health status; Social strata; World values survey and european values study (EVS/WVS).

Fig. 1

Intersectional Analysis Design using multilevel regression models with binomial distribution and Logit link function*. * Fixed effects are the individual-level variables. The country variable is the random effects.

Fig. 2

Variation of Exp(B) of not good health by age.

Fig. 3

Relation of perceived health status to gender, age, income level, education level.

Fig. 4

Perceived health by strata.

Fig. 5

Countries with worse perceived health.

Fig. 6

Relative Risk of not good health by country.

Fig. 7

Countries with the worst perceived health of people over 50 with low incomes.

Fig. 8

Map of countries where the over-50s and those on low incomes have the worst perceptions of their own state of health.