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International Journal of Public Health

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01-07-2017 | Original Article

Associations of relative income deprivation with perceived happiness and self-rated health among the Hong Kong Chinese population

Authors: Chee Hon Chan, Ho Kit Wong, Paul Siu Fai Yip

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 6/2017

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the association of relative income deprivation (RID) with perceived happiness and self-rated health in Hong Kong.

Methods

We measured RID on Yitzhaki indices constructed using multiple reference groups and used multilevel ordinal logistic regression models to assess its linkages with the two outcomes, using data from 6272 respondents from a large-scale representative household survey.

Results

Among the overall population, increased RID was found to be consistently associated with reduced perceived happiness, even after adjusting for respondents’ level of absolute income and other socio-demographic covariates; however, there were no consistent associations between RID and self-rated health. In subgroup analysis, we observed significant linkages between RID and self-rated health only among men, the middle and older age ranges, and among those with less education and those not engaged in economic activities.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that RID is adversely associated with perceived happiness. However, its negative linkage with self-rated health is less clear. The weak tie between RID and self-rated health may relate to the Hong Kong context, where the public health system is relatively equitable and has multiple pro-poor health policies.

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Title: Associations of relative income deprivation with perceived happiness and self-rated health among the Hong Kong Chinese population
Authors: Chee Hon Chan
Ho Kit Wong
Paul Siu Fai Yip
Publication date: 01-07-2017
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 6/2017
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-017-0953-x

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Springer Medicine

Associations of relative income deprivation with perceived happiness and self-rated health among the Hong Kong Chinese population

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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