Influence of sociodemographic and neighbourhood factors on self rated health and quality of life in rural communities: findings from the Agriproject in the Republic of Ireland

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) 2004-11, Vol.58 (11), p.904-911
• Main Authors: Tay, Joseph B, Kelleher, Cecily C, Hope, Ann, Barry, Margaret, Gabhainn, Saoirse Nic, Sixsmith, Jane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude to Health; Biological and medical sciences; Communities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Education; Empowerment; Female; Financial securities; General aspects; Government services; Health care access; Health promotion; Health Status; Health Status Indicators; Households; Humans; Internal-External Control; Intervention; Ireland; Low income groups; Male; Medical sciences; Men; Mens health; Mental health; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Personal empowerment; Population; Population number; poverty; Psychoeducational intervention; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; QOL; Quality of Life; Research Report; Rural areas; Rural Health - statistics & numerical data; rurality; Self; self rated health; Social networking; Social networks; Social Support; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic Factors; SRH; Suicides & suicide attempts; Wellbeing
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech.2002.006643

Objective: To examine the influence of sociodemographic and neighbourhood factors on self rated health, quality of life, and perceived opportunities for change (as one measure of empowerment) in rural Irish communities. Design: Pooled data from cross sectional surveys two years apart. Setting: Respondents in four randomly selected rural district electoral divisions with a population size of between 750 and 2000. Participants: 1738 rural dwellers aged 15–93, 40.5% men, interviewed at two time points. Main outcome measures: Determinants of self rated health (SRH), quality of life (QOL), and perceived opportunities for change, rated on a closed option Likert scale and assessed in multivariate logistic regression models. Main results: Overall 23.8% of the sample reported poor SRH, 22.2% poor QOL, and 50.1% low perceived opportunities for change. Low financial security and dissatisfaction with work were each significantly associated with poor SRH (OR = 1.96 (1.50 to 2.56) and 1.54 (1.11 to 2.14)), with poor QOL (OR = 2.04 (1.56 to 2.68) and 1.87 (1.34 to 2.61). Concern about access to public services was significantly predictive of SRH (OR = 1.47 (1.11 to 1.94)) rather than access to health care (that is, hospital and GP services). There were distinct sex specific patterns and a generational effect for educational status in men. Variables associated with social networks and social support were less strongly predictive of SRH and QOL when economic measures were accounted for. Conclusion: Inter-relations between indicators of health status, wellbeing, and deprivation are not well studied in rural communities. Material deprivation has a direct influence on both health status and quality of life, although immediate sources of support are relatively well preserved.