Cynical hostility, socioeconomic position, health behaviors, and symptom load: a cross-sectional analysis in a Danish population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the cross-sectional association between cynical hostility and high symptom load in a Danish population-based study. Furthermore, the aim was to investigate to what extent health risk behaviors mediated this association.


METHODS
Data were based on a postal questionnaire in a Danish random sample of 3426 men and 3699 women aged 40 or 50 years. Cynical hostility was measured by the 8-item Cynical Distrust Scale. High symptom load was assessed by physiological and mental symptoms experienced within the last 4 weeks. Confounders were age and socioeconomic position, while potential mediators were alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and BMI.


RESULTS
Higher cynical hostility was associated with self-reported symptom load. Health behaviors did not seem to mediate this effect. Socioeconomic position was a strong confounder for the effect on both health and health behaviors. After adjustment the effects of hostility on health remained with odds ratios of 2.1 (1.7-2.6) for women and 2.3 (1.8-2.8) for men.


CONCLUSIONS
After adjustment for socioeconomic position, cynical hostility has an effect on self-reported high symptom load, and this effect is not mediated by health behaviors.
Christensen
Ulla
U
Department of Social Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, DK 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark. U.Christensen@socmed.ku.dk
Lund
Rikke
R
Damsgaard
Mogens Trab
MT
Holstein
Bjørn Evald
BE
Ditlevsen
Susanne
S
Diderichsen
Finn
F
Due
Pernille
P
Iversen
Lars
L
Lynch
John
J
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011177:Postal Service; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires