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Does survey non-response bias the association between occupational social class and health?Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland, Population Research Unit, Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki, Finland, Pekka.Martikainen{at}Helsinki.Fi
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Aims: A non-response rate of 20—40%is typical in questionnaire studies. The authors evaluate non-response bias and its impact on analyses of social class inequalities in health. Methods: Set in the context of a health survey carried out among the employees of the City of Helsinki (non-response 33%) in 2000—02. Survey response and non-response records were linked with a personnel register to provide information on occupational social class and long sickness absence spells as an indicator of health status. Results: Women and employees in higher occupational social classes were more likely to respond. Non-respondents had about 20—30% higher sickness absence rates. Relative social class differences in sickness absence in the total population were similar to those among either respondents or non-respondents. Conclusions: In working populations survey non-response does not seriously bias analyses of social class inequalities in sickness absence and possibly health inequalities more generally.
Key Words: Bias health non-response occupational social class
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, No. 2,
212-215 (2007) This article has been cited by other articles:
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