Comparing the effects of neighbourhood characteristics on all-cause mortality using two hierarchical areal units in the capital region of Helsinki

Tarkiainen, L., Martikainen, P., Laaksonen, M. and Leyland, A.H. (2010) Comparing the effects of neighbourhood characteristics on all-cause mortality using two hierarchical areal units in the capital region of Helsinki. Health and Place, 16(2), pp. 409-412. (doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.10.008)

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Abstract

We examine how the choice of areal unit affects the estimation of neighbourhood effects on mortality using two different areal units. We used register data of 70,936 individuals aged 25-64 years residing in the capital region of Helsinki, Finland. Results from the multilevel Poisson regression show that the clustering of mortality was slightly stronger when using smaller area units. The differences disappear when account was taken of known individual-level characteristics of the residents. This was also the case for the effect of the proportion of manual workers in the area on mortality. Our results imply that the choice of area scale will not lead to serious underestimation of neighbourhood effects in mortality.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Leyland, Professor Alastair
Authors: Tarkiainen, L., Martikainen, P., Laaksonen, M., and Leyland, A.H.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences
Journal Name:Health and Place
ISSN:1353-8292
ISSN (Online):1873-2054
Published Online:23 October 2010

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