title: Was the economic crisis of 2008 good for Icelanders? Impact on health behaviors.
abstract: This study uses the 2008 economic crisis in Iceland to identify the effects of a macroeconomic downturn on a range of health behaviors. We use longitudinal survey data that include pre- and post-reports from the same individuals on a range of health-compromising and health-promoting behaviors. We find that the crisis led to large and significant reductions in health-compromising behaviors (such as smoking, drinking alcohol or soft drinks, and eating sweets) and certain health-promoting behaviors (consumption of fruits and vegetables), but to increases in other health-promoting behaviors (consumption of fish oil and recommended sleep). The magnitudes of effects for smoking are somewhat larger than what has been found in past research in other contexts, while those for alcohol, fruits, and vegetables are in line with estimates from other studies. Changes in work hours, real income, financial assets, mortgage debt, and mental health, together, explain the effects of the crisis on some behaviors (such as consumption of sweets and fast food), while the effects of the crisis on most other behaviors appear to have operated largely through price increases.
authors: University of Iceland, Oddi v/Sturlugötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Electronic address: ta@hi.is.
authors: Tinna Laufey
authors: TL
authors: Ásgeirsdóttir
authors: Rider University and National Bureau of Economic Research, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States. Electronic address: Corman@rider.edu.
authors: Hope
authors: H
authors: Corman
authors: Rider University and National Bureau of Economic Research, 2083 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States. Electronic address: knoonan@rider.edu.
authors: Kelly
authors: K
authors: Noonan
authors: University of Iceland, Oddi v/Sturlugötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Electronic address: tho32@hi.is.
authors: Þórhildur
authors: Þ
authors: Ólafsdóttir
authors: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 89 French St. Rm. 1348, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, United States. Electronic address: nancy.reichman@gmail.com.
authors: Nancy E
authors: NE
authors: Reichman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D057172:Economic Recession / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Economic crisis; Health behaviors; Iceland; Recessions