Covariation in the socioeconomic determinants of self rated health and happiness: a multivariate multilevel analysis of individuals and communities in the USA.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate individual level determinants of self rated health and happiness, as well as the extent of community level covariation in health and happiness.


METHODS
Multivariate multilevel regression analysis of self rated poor health and unhappiness at level 1, nested within 24 118 people at level 2, nested within 36 communities at level 3. Data were obtained from the 2000 social capital benchmark survey.


METHODS
USA communities.


METHODS
24 118 adults.


METHODS
Self reported fair/poor health; and a single item measure of subjective wellbeing.


RESULTS
Controlling for demographic markers, a strong income and education gradient was seen for self rated poor health and unhappiness, with the gradient being stronger for poor health. Community level correlations between self rated poor health and happiness were stronger (0.65) than the individual level correlations (0.16) between the two outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Poor health and unhappiness are highly positively correlated within individuals, and communities that are healthier tend to be happier and vice versa.
Subramanian
S V
SV
Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, 7th Floor, Boston, MA 02115, USA. svsubram@hsph.harvard.edu
Kim
Daniel
D
Kawachi
Ichiro
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology