Predictors of self-rated health: a 12-month prospective study of IT and media workers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine health-related risk and salutogenic factors and to use these to construct prediction models for future self-rated health (SRH), i.e. find possible characteristics predicting individuals improving or worsening in SRH over time (0-12 months).


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted with measurements (physiological markers and self-ratings) at 0, 6 and 12 months, involving 303 employees (187 men and 116 women, age 23-64) from four information technology and two media companies.


RESULTS
There were a multitude of statistically significant cross-sectional correlations (Spearman's Rho) between SRH and other self-ratings as well as physiological markers. Predictors of future SRH were baseline ratings of SRH, self-esteem and social support (logistic regression), and SRH, sleep quality and sense of coherence (linear regression).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicate that baseline SRH and other self-ratings are predictive of future SRH. It is cautiously implied that SRH, self-esteem, social support, sleep quality and sense of coherence might be predictors of future SRH and therefore possibly also of various future health outcomes.
Hasson
Dan
D
Karolinska Institute, CRU/Dept of Neurobiology, Caring Science and Society, Karolinska University Hospital, Eugeniahemmet, T4:02, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. dan.hasson@ki.se
Arnetz
Bengt B
BB
Theorell
Töres
T
Anderberg
Ulla Maria
UM