title: Geographical and household variation in health-related quality of life in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated individual, household, and area effects in the distribution of mental and physical health scores in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data from a large representative survey of randomly sampled 29,561 Chinese adults in 2002. Multilevel regression methods were used to model variance in the physical and mental component of the SF-12 at the individual, household and area levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Little variance in scores occurred at the area level (0.3% for physical health and 2.1% for mental health), whereas substantial variance occurred at the household level (23.2% for physical health and 37.2% for mental health), and individual level (76.5% for physical health and 60.7% for mental health).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Similar to studies conducted in Western countries, these results confirm the importance of individual-, household- and area-level characteristics as important determinants of both mental and physical health. It suggests that area-level characteristics may be more important for mental than physical health.
authors: Department of Community & Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong. yeungshanwong@cuhk.edu.hk
authors: Samuel Yeung Shan
authors: SY
authors: Wong
authors: Chun Hong Johnson
authors: CH
authors: Lau
authors: Eric Ming Chung
authors: EM
authors: Wong
authors: Vincent Chi Ho
authors: VC
authors: Chung
authors: Su-Vui
authors: SV
authors: Lo
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Goggins
authors: Sian
authors: S
authors: Meryl Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors