Health-Risk Behaviours in Objective and Subjective Health among Croatians Aged 50 and Older

Abstract

Recent data indicate that self-rated health among Croatians
is substantially lower, and the gender gap more pronounced,
than the EU28. Thus, our study aims to test the sex-specific
associations of various health-risk characteristics with
subjective and objective health in the Croatian population
aged 50 and older (2,436 individuals, cross-sectional SHARE
Wave 6 dataset). The logistic regression analyses were
performed on health-risk behaviours (nutrition, physical
activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption), together with
the selected socioeconomic variables and the quality of life
scale (CASP-12). The study revealed the importance of
vigorous physical activity and the CASP score as being
consistently relevant for objective and subjective health in
both sexes. Univariate associations of the majority of health-
-risk behaviours and health have disappeared from the
multivariate model; we have thus concluded that they are
often a proximate reflection of underlying economic and
psychosocial factors. Furthermore, our findings support the
necessity of country-specific health-risk research since the
relevance of particular health risks can be considered
culturally specific.