Henrik Vardinghus-Nielsen

Individual social capital and survival: a population study with 5-year follow-up.

BackgroundThe concept of social capital has received increasing attention as a determinant of population survival, but its significance is uncertain. We examined the importance of social capital on survival in a population study while focusing on gender differences.MethodsWe used data from a Danish regional health survey with a five-year follow-up period, 2007–2012 (n = 9288, 53.5% men, 46.5% women). We investigated the association between social capital and all-cause mortality, performing separate analyses on a composite measure as well as four specific dimensions of social capital while controlling for covariates. Analyses were performed with Cox proportional hazard models by which hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.ResultsFor women, higher levels of social capital were associated with lower all-cause mortality regardless of age, socioeconomic status, health, and health behaviour (HR = 0.586, 95% CI = 0.421-0.816) while no such association was found for men (HR = 0.949, 95% CI = 0.816-1.104). Analysing the specific dimensions of social capital, higher levels of trust and social network were significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality in women (HR = 0.827, 95% CI = 0.750-0.913 and HR = 0.832, 95% CI = 0.729-0.949, respectively). For men, strong social networks were associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.132, 95% CI = 1.017-1.260). Civic engagement had a similar effect for both men (HR = 0.848, 95% CI = 0.722-0.997) and women (HR = 0.848, 95% CI = 0.630-1.140).ConclusionsWe found differential effects of social capital in men compared to women. The predictive effects on all-cause mortality of four specific dimensions of social capital varied. Gender stratified analysis and the use of multiple indicators to measure social capital are thus warranted in future research.

Socioeconomic inequality and mortality - a regional Danish cohort study

BackgroundSocioeconomic inequalities in mortality pose a serious impediment to enhance public health even in highly developed welfare states. This study aimed to improve the understanding of socioeconomic disparities in all-cause mortality by using a comprehensive approach including a range of behavioural, psychological, material and social determinants in the analysis.MethodsData from The North Denmark Region Health Survey 2007 among residents in Northern Jutland, Denmark, were linked with data from nationwide administrative registries to obtain information on death in a 5.8-year follow-up period (1stFebruary 2007- 31stDecember 2012). Socioeconomic position was assessed using educational status as a proxy. The study population was assigned to one of five groups according to highest achieved educational level. The sample size was 8,837 after participants with missing values or aged below 30 years were excluded. Cox regression models were used to assess the risk of death from all causes according to educational level, with a step-wise inclusion of explanatory covariates.ResultsParticipants’ mean age at baseline was 54.1 years (SD 12.6); 3,999 were men (45.3%). In the follow-up period, 395 died (4.5%). With adjustment for age and gender, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the two least-educated levels (HR = 1.5, 95%, CI = 1.2-1.8 and HR = 3.7, 95% CI = 2.4-5.9, respectively) compared to the middle educational level. After adjustment for the effect of subjective and objective health, similar results were obtained (HR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7 and HR = 3.5, 95% CI = 2.0-6.3, respectively). Further adjustment for the effect of behavioural, psychological, material and social determinants also failed to eliminate inequalities found among groups, the risk remaining significantly higher for the least educated levels (HR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9 and HR = 4.0, 95% CI = 2.3-6.8, respectively). In comparison with the middle level, the two highest educated levels remained statistically insignificant throughout the entire analysis.ConclusionSocioeconomic inequality influenced mortality substantially even when adjusted for a range of determinants that might explain the association. Further studies are needed to understand this important relationship.

Association Between Physical Fitness and Academic Achievement in a Cohort of Danish School Pupils.

BACKGROUND Time spent on physical activity in elementary school has been altered to improve core academics. However, little is known about the relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement. We examined the association between physical fitness and academic achievement and investigated the influence of parental socioeconomic status and ethnicity. METHODS Participants were 542 girls and 577 boys aged 13 to 15 residing in the Danish municipality of Aalborg. A watt-max cycle ergometer test was completed to evaluate physical fitness as represented by VO2 max (mL·kg(-1) ·min(-1) ). Academic achievement was measured 1 school year later through a series of mandatory exams within the humanities, sciences, and all obligatory defined exams. Parental income and education were drawn from nationwide registers. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association. RESULTS Adjusting for ethnicity and parental socioeconomic status, the effect size of the humanities was 0.08 grad/VO2 max (95% Cl: 0.05 to 0.11) for girls and 0.06 grad/VO2 max (95% Cl:0.03 to 0.08) for boys. The effect size of the sciences was 0.09 grad/VO2 max (95% Cl:0.05 to 0.13) for girls and 0.06 grad/VO2 max (95% Cl:0.03 to 0.09) for boys. The effect size of the defined exams was 0.09 grad/VO2 max (95% Cl:0.06 to 0.11) for girls and 0.06 grad/VO2 max (95% Cl:0.03 to 0.08) for boys. CONCLUSION We found a statistically significant positive association between physical fitness and academic achievement after adjusting for ethnicity and parental socioeconomic status.

An ethnographic field study of the influence of social interactions during the school day for children diagnosed with ADHD

Abstract The aim of this ethnographic field study was to investigate the influence of school-day social interactions on the well-being and social inclusion of children diagnosed with ADHD. The empirical data consisted of participant observations and informal interviews over a three-month period at a Danish primary school. Two ADHD-diagnosed 11-year-old boys in the fourth and fifth grades were followed on an alternating basis. The field notes were analysed using a qualitative content analysis that incorporated Etienne Wenger’s concepts of social identity and participation. The results revealed that the effects of school-day social interactions are complex and situation dependent. Medication, friendships and relationships with teachers and other adults strongly influence how children diagnosed with ADHD participate in social interactions and, consequently, how they thrive. We argue that it is important to emphasise the mediation of these children’s participation in the classroom community throughout an entire school day to ensure their social inclusion and well-being.

The indirect and direct pathways between physical fitness and academic achievement on commencement in post-compulsory education in a historical cohort of Danish school youth

BackgroundSome studies have found positive associations between physical fitness and academic achievements. Pupils’ academic achievements should indicate scholastic abilities to commence a post-compulsory education. However, the effect magnitude of physical fitness and academic achievements on commencement in post-compulsory education is unknown. We examined the pathways between physical fitness and academic achievement on pupils’ commencement in post-compulsory education.MethodsThis historical cohort study followed 530 girls and 554 boys from the Danish municipality of Aalborg in the period 2008–2014, 13 to 15 years old in 2010. Physical fitness was assessed through a watt-max cycle ergometer test represented as VO2max (mL·kg−1·min−1). Academic achievement, commencement status and information on covariates were obtained from Danish nationwide registers. Causal inference based mediation analysis was used to investigate the indirect and direct pathways by separating the total effect of physical fitness on post-compulsory education commencement.ResultsAdjusting for sex, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, the overall mediation analysis showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.87 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.30; 2.73) for the total effect, corresponding to an increase in odds of post-compulsory education commencement when the physical fitness was increased by 10 units of VO2max. The separated total effect showed a natural direct OR of 1.36 (95% CI: 0.93; 1.98) and a natural indirect (i.e., through academic achievement) OR of 1.37 (95% CI: 1.20; 1.57). Thus, 51% (95% CI: 27%; 122%) of the effect of physical fitness on post-compulsory education commencement was mediated through academic achievement.ConclusionPhysical fitness had a positive effect on post-compulsory education commencement. A substantial part of this effect was mediated through academic achievement.