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International Journal of Public Health

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01-01-2016 | Original Article

Educational inequalities in smoking over the life cycle: an analysis by cohort and gender

Authors: Damien Bricard, Florence Jusot, François Beck, Myriam Khlat, Stéphane Legleye

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Objectives

The study investigates the life cycle patterns of educational inequalities in smoking according to gender over three successive generations.

Methods

Based on retrospective smoking histories collected by the nationwide French Health Barometer survey 2010, we explored educational inequalities in smoking at each age, using the relative index of inequality.

Results

Educational inequalities in smoking increase across cohorts for men and women, corresponding to a decline in smoking among the highly educated alongside progression among the lower educated. The analysis also shows a life cycle evolution: for all cohorts and for men and women, inequalities are considerable during adolescence, then start declining from 18 years until the age of peak prevalence (around 25), after which they remain stable throughout the life cycle, even tending to rise for the most recent cohort.

Conclusions

This analysis contributes to the description of the “smoking epidemic” and highlights adolescence and late adulthood as life cycle stages with greater inequalities.

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Title: Educational inequalities in smoking over the life cycle: an analysis by cohort and gender
Authors: Damien Bricard
Florence Jusot
François Beck
Myriam Khlat
Stéphane Legleye
Publication date: 01-01-2016
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0731-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Educational inequalities in smoking over the life cycle: an analysis by cohort and gender

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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