No mean city: adolescent health and risk behaviours in a UK urban setting

Levin, K.A., Walsh, D. and McCartney, G. (2015) No mean city: adolescent health and risk behaviours in a UK urban setting. Journal of Public Health, 37(2), pp. 258-268. (doi: 10.1093/pubmed/fdu035) (PMID:24914087)

Abstract

Background: The adult population of Glasgow has worse health than in the rest of Scotland, only partially explained by deprivation. Little is known about the health of young Glaswegians. Methods: The 2010 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey data were analysed using multilevel modelling to compare outcomes in Glasgow relative to the rest of Scotland. Results: Glasgow adolescents had similar or better self-reported health on some measures—e.g. adjusting for age and sex, OR for ‘very happy’ was 0.93 (95% CI = (0.75, 1.14))—and the beta coefficient for positive GHQ-12 was 2.79 (0.72, 4.85) compared with the rest of Scotland. However, many health aspects were worse in Glasgow especially for eating and sedentary behaviour, subjective health and aggression, e.g. the OR for ‘daily consumption of vegetables’ was 0.59 (0.46, 0.77), of reporting ‘excellent health’ was 0.66 (0.50, 0.87); headaches was 1.40 (1.09, 1.80); however drinking alcohol in the past week was lower (OR 0.71 (0.50, 0.99)) and smoking, similar. Adjustment for family affluence and school type marginally attenuated the association with Glasgow. Conclusions: The worse health experienced by Glasgow adults is only partially seen among young people in Glasgow; however, these are seen at the youngest ages in the study.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Walsh, Dr David
• Authors: Levin, K.A., Walsh, D., and McCartney, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
• Journal Name: Journal of Public Health
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• ISSN: 1741-3842
• ISSN (Online): 1741-3850
• Published Online: 08 June 2015