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Does survey non-response bias the association between occupational social class and health?
Pekka Martikainen1, Mikko Laaksonen, Kustaa Piha
1Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. Pekka.Martikainen@Helsinki.Fi
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.
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