Antti Karisto

Contacts between elderly parents and their children in four European countries: current patterns and future prospects

Frequency of contacts with the family is an indicator of the strength of intergenerational exchange and potential support for older people. Although the availability of children clearly represents a constraint on potential family support, the extent of interaction with and support received from children depends on factors other than demographic availability alone. This study examined the effects of socio-economic and demographic variables on weekly contacts with children in Great Britain, Italy, Finland and The Netherlands using representative survey data which included information on availability of children and extent of contact. Our results confirm the higher level of parent adult-child contact in Italy than in northern European countries, but levels of contact in all the countries considered were high. Multivariate analysis showed that in most countries characteristics such as divorce were associated with a reduced probability of contact between fathers and children; in Finland this also influenced contact between mothers and children. Analyses are also included of possible future scenarios of contact with children that combine the observed effects of the explanatory variables with hypothetical changes in population distribution.

RURAL URBAN DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH AND HEALTH BEHAVIOUR: A BASELINE DESCRIPTION OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH-PROMOTION PROGRAMME FOR THE ELDERLY

Study objective: To (1) describe the setting and design of the Good Ageing in Lahti Region (GOAL) programme; (2) by using the baseline results of the GOAL cohort study, to examine whether living in urban, semi-urban, or rural communities is related to risk factors for chronic diseases and functional disability in ageing individuals. Design: The baseline data of a cohort study of ageing individuals living in three community types (urban, semi-urban, rural). Data were collected by two questionnaires and laboratory assessments. Setting: Fourteen municipalities in the Lahti region (Päijät-Häme County) in Finland. Participants: A regionally and locally stratified random sample of men and women born in 1946—50, 1936—40, and 1926—30. A total of 4,272 were invited and 2,815 (66%) participated. Main results: Elevated serum cholesterol, obesity, disability, sedentary lifestyle (<2 times/week walking), and high fat intake were more prevalent in rural vs. urban and semi-urban communities. After adjustment for sex, age, education, obesity, diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use, rural communities remained the only community type with increased (p<0.05) probability for high BMI (OR 1.33) and high waist circumference (OR 1.43). Conclusions: The unfavourable health and lifestyle profile, together with an old population, makes health promotion for elderly citizens a special challenge for rural communities such as those in Päijät-Häme County, Finland. Most, if not all, of the differences in health between the three community types were explained by educational background, physical activity, and smoking.

Self-rated Health and Social Capital Among Aging People Across the Urban–Rural Dimension

BackgroundPrevious studies have found self-rated health to be associated with social capital. However, there is lack of studies examining social capital among aging people and its impact on self-rated health in the urban–rural context.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate associations between self-rated health and indicators of social capital (trust, various social contacts, social participation, and access to help) among aging people living in urban and rural areas in Finland.MethodA postal survey was conducted in 2002 among men and women born in 1926–1930, 1936–1940, or 1946–1950 and dwelling in 14 municipalities in the Päijät-Häme hospital district in Finland. A total of 2,815 participants represented 66% of the original stratified (by age, gender, and municipality) sample. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations.ResultsActive social participation and easy access to help from others were associated with good self-rated health, especially in the urban and sparsely populated rural areas. Trust was a particularly important correlate of subjective health in the urban area, though its significance diminished after adjusting to all background variables. No overall disparities in self-rated health between the areas emerged. Social participation and access to help as indicators of social capital seem to be important resources when aging men and women assess their subjective health.ConclusionIncreasing efforts to encourage social participation and facilitate access to help from other persons should be included among the key priorities in community health promotion.

Persisting Health Inequalities: Social Class Differentials in Illness in the Scandinavian Countries

Finland, Norway and Sweden are highly developed welfare states with a long tradition of egalitarian health and welfare policies. This article analyzes social class differentials in self-reported limiting long-standing illness among men and women in these countries. The data consisted of nation-wide Level of Living Surveys made in 1986–87 in Finland (N=11,783), Norway (N=4,211) and Sweden (N=4,699). Women reported both long-standing illness and limiting long-standing illness slightly more often than men. The prevalence of limiting long-standing illness was lower in Sweden than in Finland and Norway. In all countries blue-collar workers reported ill-health more often than white-collar employees. The prevalence of self-reported limiting long-standing illness among Swedish upper white-collar workers was very low and that among Finnish farmers very high. Skilled female workers showed the worst health whereas Swedish upper class men showed the best health. The reasons for these social inequalities, and their implications for social policy, are discussed.

Socioeconomic status and health in Finland and the other Scandinavian countries

Abstract The purpose of the study is to describe the association between morbidity and socioeconomic status in the Scandinavian countries and to analyse to what extent the excessive morbidity of the Finnish population can be explained in terms of socioeconomic factors. The data are from an interview survey of a random sample of the 15–64 year old populations of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. A clear connection between education and health (measured on the prevalence of certain self-reported illnesses) as well as between occupation and health was observed. Only a small part of the difference in morbidity between Finland and the other Scandinavian countries could, however, be explained by differences in demographic and socioeconomic structure.

Longitudinal changes in functional capacity: effects of socio-economic position among ageing adults

IntroductionHealth and functional capacity have improved especially in Western countries over the past few decades. Nevertheless, the positive secular trend has not been able to decrease an uneven distribution of health. The main aim of this study was to follow-up changes in functional capacity among the same people in six years time and to detect whether the possible changes vary according to socio-economic position (SEP). In addition, it is of interest whether health behaviours have an effect on these possible changes.MethodsThis longitudinal follow-up study consisted of 1,898 individuals from three birth cohorts (1926–1930, 1936–40, 1946–50) who took part in clinical check-ups and answered to a survey questionnaire in 2002 and 2008. A sub-scale of physical functioning from the RAND-36 was used to measure functional capacity. Education and adequacy of income were used as indicators of socio-economic position. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used as a main method of analysis.ResultsPhysical functioning in 2002 and 2008 was poorest among those men and women belonging to the oldest cohort. Functional capacity deteriorated in six years among men in the oldest cohort and among women in all three cohorts. Socio-economic disparities in functional capacity among ageing people existed. Especially lower adequacy of income was most consistently associated with poorer functional capacity. However, changes in functional capacity by socio-economic position remained the same or even narrowed independent of health behaviours.ConclusionSocio-economic disparities in physical functioning are mainly incorporated in the level of functioning at the baseline. No widening socioeconomic disparities in functional capacity exist. Partly these disparities even seem to narrow with ageing.

Towards a More Social Orientation in Gerontechnology: Case Study of the “Reminiscence Stick”

The purpose of this article is to investigate, through a case study, how social orientation can be realized in gerontechnologys objectives. The focus is on user-driven development process of an “mStick,” which is a tool for storing various biographical material: photographs, texts, audio and video clips, and using it in elderly care services. Qualitative data were collected in 11 pilot cases. The content analysis was used to investigate how the “Gerontechnologys Five Ways”: prevention, enhancement, compensation, care, and research, were applicable especially from the perspective of social implications. The mStick acts as a prevention by offering meaningful contents to life, as enhancement by offering a possibility to utilize elderly persons resources. It compensates weakening abilities by preventing the world from becoming narrower. In care, it helps to see patients as whole human beings with unique biography. In addition, mStick offers potential for, for example, applications in memory research. The implication of this study is to pay attention to gerontechnologys role in supporting the social nature of the human being. This may contribute to renewing caring culture towards a more social and biographical orientation. Limitations of this study include focusing on the early development and implementation process with no long-term use data.

Spatial Practises and Preferences of Older and Younger People: Findings from the Finnish Studies

There are strong tendencies in urban segregation, not only according to social class, gender and ethnic lines but also according to age. This paper draws on the findings of three studies conducted in Lahti, Finland, to examine the intergenerational aspects of spatial practise. It is argued that people look at their environment through a generational gaze, such that different generations have different spatial preferences and practises. In this article, an age-friendly living environment refers to one that appeals not only to older people but to people of all ages. Age-friendly environments have no segregating borderlines, but rather enable the meeting and communication of different aged people and sustain age integration. As older and young people are most dependent on their living environments, the paper concentrates on their use of space and attachment to place. Our special focus is on recreational activities and places: How and where older and young people spend leisure time? What are their favourite places? What is the importance of nature and different kind of urban spots for them? On the basis of the differences and similarities found out in their spatial practises and preferences, our aim is to discuss age-friendly environments that appeal to different aged people. The study is based on qualitative and quantitative data and draws out implications for future age-diverse communities.

Weight and Health Behaviour Changes among Ageing People with Medication for Hypertension and High Cholesterol Level

Purpose. It is hypothesized that people with medication for hypertension and/or high cholesterol level do not lose weight or change their health behaviour. Methods. This is a six-year follow-up study consisting of 1,428 individuals from two birth cohorts (1936–40, 1946–50) who took part in clinical check-ups and answered to the survey questionnaires in 2002 and 2008. Results. Those participants, born in 1946–50, who had medication at the baseline had higher increase of body mass index (𝑃<0.01) and waist circumference (𝑃<0.01) at the follow-up. No major disparities in health behaviour changes between medicated and nonmedicated were found. Conclusions. Findings of this study support partly the hypothesis that aging individuals with medication for hypertension and/or high cholesterol level do not lose weight or change their health behaviour.

Mellanölets Renässans i Finland

The article describes the two waves of popularity for medium beer in Finland. Medium beer contains 3.7-4.7 percent alcohol per volume whereas strong beer (sold only in the state retail monopoly shops) contains 4.7-5.8 alcohol per volume. The first wave occurred after deregulation of the sale of the medium strength beer in 1969. The second was in the beginning of the 1990s. During the first wave, the total consumption of beer increased; the consumption of medium beer rose in parallel with the consumption of strong beer. During the second wave, medium beer became a substitute for the strong variety. Finnish drinkers of medium strength beer are described using data from two data sets: Monitoring of Health Behaviour among the Finnish Adult Population (1978–93) and Alcohol Interview Surveys (1984 and 1992). Consumption of medium beer has increased in all age, gender and socio-economic groups, but it has increased more among younger and middle-age people than among older people. The differences between educational groups diminished after adjustment for age. Since 1984 medium beer bars have become increasingly popular and women, in particular, have joined the clientele.