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International Journal of Public Health

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Open Access 01-09-2017 | Original Article

Is personality a driving force for socioeconomic differences in young adults’ health care use? A prospective cohort study

Authors: Maren Kraft, Koos Arts, Tanja Traag, Ferdy Otten, Hans Bosma

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 7/2017

Abstract

Objectives

To relate personality characteristics at the age of 12 to socioeconomic differences in health care use in young adulthood. And thereby examining the extent to which socioeconomic differences in the use of health care in young adulthood are based on differences in personality characteristics, independent of the (parental) socioeconomic background.

Methods

Personality of more than 13,000 Dutch 12-year old participants was related to their health and socioeconomic position after a follow-up of 13 years (when the participants had become young adults).

Results

In young adulthood, low socioeconomic status was related to high health care use (e.g. low education -hospital admission: OR = 2.21; low income -GP costs: OR = 1.25). Odds ratios (for the socioeconomic health differences) did not decrease when controlled for personality.

Conclusions

In this Dutch sample of younger people, personality appeared not to be a driving force for socioeconomic differences in health care use. Findings thus do not support the personality-related, indirect selection perspective on the explanation of socioeconomic differences in health.

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Title: Is personality a driving force for socioeconomic differences in young adults’ health care use? A prospective cohort study
Authors: Maren Kraft
Koos Arts
Tanja Traag
Ferdy Otten
Hans Bosma
Publication date: 01-09-2017
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 7/2017
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-016-0927-4

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Is personality a driving force for socioeconomic differences in young adults’ health care use? A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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