Impact of macroeconomic conditions on health and well-being in England

According to conventional wisdom, health behaviours and lifestyles such as current smoking and alcohol consumption were believed to increase during periods of economic downturn. However, a growing body of literature has produced discordant findings regarding the association between macroeconomic conditions, health and lifestyles. The aim of this research study was to investigate the relationship between macroeconomic conditions on health and lifestyles in England. The outcome variables included: cigarette smoking statuses; alcohol consumption; the prevalence of acute sickness; probable mental ill health; limiting longstanding illness; self-assessed general health; fourteen longstanding illnesses; avoidable, amenable and preventable mortality rates. Macroeconomic conditions were measured by regional employment and unemployment rates, obtained from the NOMIS website. Health outcome variables were obtained from the Health Survey for England (HSE) covering a time frame of 16 years, from 1998 to 2013. Data for avoidable, amenable and preventable mortality rates, was requested and obtained from the Office for National Statistics, covering years 2000-2010. The HSE health outcome variables, were regressed against the macroeconomic conditions variables, month of interview, Government Office Region and year. In additional analyses we controlled for age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, the number of adults, children and infants in the household, BMI status, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, social class, economic status, highest educational qualification, and household income. The avoidable, amenable and preventable mortality rates were regressed against the macroeconomic conditions, yearly quarters, Government Office Regions, gender, gross hourly pay, population percentages, ethnic groups and educational qualifications. Results showed a variety of different associations between regional employment and unemployment rates and the numerous health outcome variables, particularly using the stratified and time lagged models. In general, we found consistent evidence with recent research articles, particularly as those from the USA. This study will provide further international evidence regarding this issue.