title: Social class inequalities in health among occupational cohorts from Finland, Britain and Japan: a follow up study.
abstract: We examined whether relative occupational social class inequalities in physical health functioning widen, narrow or remain stable among white collar employees from three affluent countries. Health functioning was assessed twice in occupational cohorts from Britain (1997-1999 and 2003-2004), Finland (2000-2002 and 2007) and Japan (1998-1999 and 2003). Widening inequalities were seen for British and Finnish men, whereas inequalities among British and Finnish women remained relatively stable. Japanese women showed reverse inequalities at follow up, but no health inequalities were seen among Japanese men. Health behaviours and social relations explained 4-37% of the magnitude in health inequalities, but not their widening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland. Electronic address: eero.lahelma@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lahelma
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pietiläinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Ossi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rahkonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martikainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrie
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marmot
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shipley
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Michikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatsuse
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland.
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lallukka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Britain; Finland; Follow up; Health inequalities; Japan