Examining the continuity of self-rated health.

BACKGROUND: The study examines whether self-rated health forms a continuum from poor through average to good health in terms of two groups of health-related variables.
METHODS: The data come from the 1994 Finnish Survey on Living Conditions, a representative sample of Finnish men and women aged 25 years or older (n = 7290). Logistic regression analysis was used with two dependent variables: (1) average versus good/excellent self-rated health and (2) poor versus good/excellent self-rated health. Two groups of independent variables were used: (1) risk factors and (2) ill-health indicators. Separate analyses were made for men and women controlling for sociodemographic background variables.
RESULTS: Of the risk factors, BMI and physical exercise were associated both with average and poor self-rated health whereas frequency of drinking was only associated with poor health. All used indicators of ill health were strongly associated with average as well as poor self-rated health. With the exception of BMI, the associations of both risk factors and ill health were stronger with poor than with average health.
CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that self-rated health forms a continuum from poor to good health when risk factors and indicators of ill health are considered, and that there are only minor differences in the continuity of self-rated health between men and women.