SOCIAL-CLASS AND HEALTH BEHAVIOR IN DANISH ADULTS - A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Health behaviours were examined in a random sample of 3,608 men and wo men aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years, living in the western part of Copenh agen, Denmark. Data were collected by standardized questionnaires comp leted by each individual in 1982 and by 2,987 subjects who attended fo r follow up five years later. Smoking, leisure time inactivity and inf requent intake of vegetables were interrelated and highly influenced b y social class. Between 1982 and 1987 the proportion of smokers decrea sed in both sexes. However, an inverse association with social status persisted in the men and increased by 8% in the women. The proportion of physically inactive subjects remained nearly constant. Infrequent i ntake of vegetables decreased in both sexes, but an inverse associatio n with social status persisted in men and increased by 10% in women fr om 1982 to 1987.In the multivariate analysis high social status predic ted quitting smoking in both sexes and increased intake of vegetables in women. It is suggested that the inequalities in health behaviours b etween social status groups may to some extent be attributed to the wa y health promotion has been carried out in Denmark. This observation p rovides a challenge for the future design of effective public health s trategies.