Are Drinkers Prone To Engage In Risky Sexual Behaviors?

Sexually transmitted diseases pose an important public health problem around the world. Although many studies have explored the link between alcohol use and risky sexual practices, the unobserved differences among individuals make it difficult to assess whether the associations are casual in nature. In order to overcome these difficulties, we have obtained data from the Spanish Health and Sexual Behavior Survey (2003) in order to analyze risky sexual behaviors using four alternative methodologies: controlling results with a rich set of variables; identifying the impact of alcohol use while assuming there is an identical selection outcome for observed and unobserved variables; estimating alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviors simultaneously based on instrumental variables; and using reduced-form equations to analyze the impact of alcohol prices and other alcohol policies on the likelihood of risky intercourse. We provide empirical evidence that alcohol abuse might increase the probability of risky sex and, more importantly, different alcohol policies are not only effective tools for reducing alcohol demand but also for controlling risky sexual behaviors.alcohol; sexually transmitted diseases; unobserved individual heterogeneity.

Del capital humano al capital social: estrategias de prevención del consumo de alcohol

La riqueza de una nación ya no se identifica exclusivamente con sus dotaciones económicas y sus recursos naturales, sino que también integra otras dos formas de capital: humano y social. De hecho, una comunidad rica seria aquella que simultáneamente y de manera equilibrada, incrementa sus cuotas en estos cuatro recursos. Por tanto, dada la importancia del capital humano y social en el desarrollo económico sostenible, es necesario ahondar en su relación de complementariedad. La formación de ambos capitales depende de un conjunto amplio de factores interrelacionados entre los que destacamos la importancia del sistema educativo y de la salud poblacional. Las condiciones y los comportamientos de riesgo para la salud comprometen su desarrollo. El consumo de bebidas alcohólicas nos brinda un marco idóneo para contrastar nuestra línea argumentativa. En este sentido, la apuesta por estrategias de prevención y promoción de la salud supone un difícil ejercicio de coordinación entre los distintos poderes públicos, que implica la planificación de políticas de desarrollo a largo plazo

Psychosocial determinants of risky sexual behaviour by gender in Spain

Objectives: This study examines the determinants of risky sexual behaviour by gender in Spain. Methods: Data was taken from the Spanish Health and Sexual Behaviour Survey (2003). Controlled regression results for a wide set of variables (socio-demographic characteristics, behaviour, knowledge and attitudes) were calculated and a factor analysis to group and to rank variables by explanatory power was carried out. Gender differences were analysed by means of repeated estimations by sub-samples of men and women. Differences based on age and sexual orientations were also taken into account. Results: HIV risk perceptions and opinions on the use of condoms are important predictors of unsafe sex for both genders. Men not only have more negative opinions of male condoms than women but these opinions are more likely to result in risky sexual behaviours. The consumption of alcohol appears to be linked to unsafe sex among young people, especially young heterosexual men. Conclusions: As perceptions and opinions are susceptible to change, the authors suggest the implementation of gender-oriented educational campaigns and policies on sexual and reproductive health. Effective education on alcohol consumption could reduce the negative outcomes associated with unsafe sex

Quality and participation in the health care system in the Casablanca district (Zaragoza, Spain): a reflection on the importance of community

El debate sobre la calidad y sostenibilidad de nuestro sistema sanitario nos remite a cuestiones relativas a la medida de su acceso y valoración por parte de la ciudadanía. La atención primaria centra dichas premisas en el ámbito local y comunitario. En el barrio de Casablanca (Zaragoza) preguntamos a 1.032 vecinos sobre la percepción de sus servicios públicos como recursos potenciales de apoyo y el modo concreto en el que los agentes sanitarios podían mejorar su actuación. Con este fin, se diseñó una encuesta liderada por el personal médico, la trabajadora social del centro de salud y profesores universitarios del ámbito psicosocial. En los resultados del estudio, se constata que variables como el sexo, la edad y la zona de residencia en el barrio influyen tanto en la evaluación de estos recursos sociales como en las alternativas que se proponen para su mejora. El desarrollo de nuestro sistema sanitario requiere no solo de una política anticrisis y de la racionalización presupuestaria, sino también de medidas socioeconómicas que garanticen la equidad en su acceso y la participación comunitaria en su planificación.The debate over the quality and sustainability of our health care system leads us to questions concerning public access and its value to the public. Primary health care focuses these considerations at the local and community level. In the district of Casablanca (Zaragoza, Spain), 1,032 residents were polled on their perceptions of their health care resources as potential sources of support and the specific way in which health workers could improve their performance. To this end, we designed a survey led by medical staff, the social worker at the local health center and University professors in the psychosocial fields. In the results of the study, we found that variables such as sex, age and area of residence in the neighborhood influence the evaluation of these social resources as well as their alternatives for improvement. The development of our health care system requires not only an anti-crisis policy and budgetary rationalization, but also socio- economic strategies that ensure equity in access and community participation in its planning

Is happiness linked to subjective life expectancy?. A study of chilean senior citizens

The main goal of this research is to determine the link between happiness and individual subjective life expectancy (SLE) among Chilean senior citizens. We use data from the 2015 edition of the Chilean Social Protection Survey. Our sample consists of 1298 seniors: 700 aged 65–74, 421 aged 75–84, and 177 aged 85 and older. We provide a novel methodological approach that allows us to measure the relative contribution of happiness to SLE, by combining the Shapley–Owen–Shorrocks decomposition with contrasts of marginal linear predictions of the equality of the means by groups. Results reveal that happiness is the most important determinant of seniors’ SLE, and the effect is stronger the older the people are. Addressing varying levels of happiness is important because both happiness and unhappiness have a significant impact. In an ageing population, social agents should consider that these variables (happiness and SLE) are related to engagement in healthy lifestyles. If prevention programs integrated this interaction, welfare systems could save scarce resources. Therefore, governments should foster happiness to support active ageing

Benefits of Older Volunteering on Wellbeing: An International Comparison

Healthier aging implies lower health service expenditure and the possibility for individuals to make a longer and more valuable contribution to society. Lifestyles, including volunteering, affect our health. The policy implications of the present study are that it aims to broaden the state of knowledge and be useful to public decision-makers: if voluntary activities enhance the integration of older people into society, their participation will help to generate economic resources and improve their own welfare; if, however, health and participation do not show positive synergies, then policymakers must act independently in each of these fields. In this work, we focus on the societies of Chile, Mexico, and Spain because they have significantly aging populations and share common traits but also exhibit important differences. The empirical study employs micro-data from the World Value Survey (1994–1998, 2005–2009, and 2010–2014) and macro-data from the statistics of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Micro- and macro-data are merged by national and temporal identifiers. Our main results provide empirical evidence that volunteering might improve every indicator of wellbeing except happiness. Different kinds of activities have different impacts on individual wellbeing. For example, volunteering in activities related to social awareness is positive for male life satisfaction, whereas volunteering in activities related to religious issues is positive for male life satisfaction but also female happiness. In general, voluntary activities have a stronger impact on male wellbeing than female wellbeing

Civic participation as a promoter of well-being: comparative analysis among european countries

Previous research on the direction of the relationship between civic participation and well-being has evidenced that civic participation is a promoter of well-being among older adults in Europe. Accordingly, the objective of the present study is to identify and analyze the differences between European welfare systems regarding both civic participation and well-being. For this purpose, a logistic multilevel regression analysis was performed as an empirical strategy, using the cross-sectional data from the 9 waves of the European Social Survey (2002-2018). Significant differences in well-being were observed, with Anglo-Saxon elders being the healthiest, and the Nordic the happiest and most satisfied with their lives. In contrast, Eastern European seniors reported the lowest levels of well-being. Also, Nordic countries are the most civically engaged, followed by the Continental and Anglo-Saxon, while Mediterranean and Eastern countries engage the least. However, the impact of civic participation on well-being is strongest for the Mediterranean countries, while its impact on satisfaction and happiness is weakest for the Nordic countries. The 3 models of the multilevel analysis indicate that civic participation has a positive impact on health, happiness and life satisfaction, and that this effect is quite robust. Also, by adding country-level macro variables to the model, it is possible to reduce the random effects and hence to better explain these international differences. Concisely, the impact of civic participation on the well-being of the elderly differs across nations and should therefore be considered by policy makers

Health-related quality of life in young people: the importance of education

Background: The concept of health-related quality of life and education integrates the bio-psychosocial perspective of health and the multidimensional potentialities of education for wellbeing. This present work is especially relevant to young people because understanding the interaction between health and education can facilitate the design of preventive policies. The research examines the way in which the educational level of young people from an urban district in the city of Zaragoza (Casablanca) has an influence on their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Methods: A cross sectional survey was undertaken in the Casablanca district of Zaragoza (Spain). Participants were not randomly selected; their numbers reflected the areas where they lived with respect to age and sex distribution. It comprised 122 boys and 122 girls, aged between16 and 29, living in the neighbourhood are: Viñedo Viejo, Las Nieves and Fuentes Claras. These three residence zones are markedly different in terms of socioeconomic composition. The questionnaire included the following information: socioeconomic characteristics (sex, age, educational level, employment status, residence zone), an assessment of health (health problems, diagnosis and medication in the last 2 weeks) and HRQOL (WHOQOL-BREF dimensions: mental health; physical health; social relations; and environment). ANOVA and four regression models were used to assess the role, direction and intensity of educational level on HRQOL. Results: The results show that the higher the level of education, the better the level of HRQOL. The biggest impact of education was on the mental health dimension, but this influence was modulated by sex and residence zone. The value of the interaction of education and residence zone was more significant than educational level alone. HRQOL of girls is more sensitive to education, being a student and residence zone than the HRQOL of boys. Conclusions: The dimensions of HRQOL are influenced by educational level. The influence is greatest among girls and the youngest members of the poorest area of the district. Public authorities should contemplate the development of an equitable education system from the beginning of the life cycle as a public health strategy