While the healthy immigrant effect (HIE) has been seen throughout the western world in the adult population; research on the older population shows an inverse relationship between self-reported health and immigration status – i.e., in many instances, a health disadvantage for older immigrants. Explanations for this vary from a lack of selection into population, among older immigrants, to a duration effect; such that perceived health advantages seen in early life dissipate upon reaching older age. While these are the widely accepted reasons for the disappearance of the HIE among older people, not all mitigating factors have been examined in detail. This study aims to identify if there is an association between retirement and the healthy immigrant effect seen in Europe. It uses SHARE data for 27 European countries to examine self reported health (SRH) outcomes & presence of longterm illness’ (LTI) for population groups aged 55-74. The findings indicate the presence of a greater health disadvantage for retired immigrants (versus native-born retirees) as compared with those who are not retired. Additionally, better health outcomes (compared to native-born individuals) were seen for immigrants who retired late (after the age of 65) versus those who retired early. Retirement due to poor health was examined as an explanation for these findings, but it did not appear to affect the results, suggesting the observed patterns are most likely caused by an alternative factor relating to retirement. Further research is recommended to identify these factors.

Opportunities to be and remain healthy are unequally distributed across socioeconomic groups and emerge and widen throughout childhood and adolescence. This thesis seeks to answer if social relationships are one of the mechanisms that operate in the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and health among Swedish adolescents, using the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey round 2009/10. It also aims to clarify which aspect of social relationships – its structure or function - matters more for health. Network structure includes its size and frequency of contact, and network function refers to resources received from those in the network, such as social support. The research questions guiding the thesis are: (1) Is higher socioeconomic status associated with higher self-rated health and wellbeing among Swedish adolescents? (2) Does the structure and the function of the child’s social relationships mediate in the associations in question 1? (3) Which aspect of social relationships (structure or function) mediates the associations in question 1 to the largest extent? Research questions are addressed by a mediation analysis using regression models to explore which indicators of social relationships mediate the associations between SES and health and wellbeing. Results showed a positive association between SES and health and wellbeing, and mainly three significant mediators were found which indicated that children with higher SES receive higher social support from their parents and peers and have a larger network which in turn lead to better health and wellbeing. Finally, results indicated that it is the function of social relationships rather than the structure that mediates to the largest extent.

There is concern about the indoor environment in aircraft but few stud-ies exist on self-rated health (SRH) and respiratory symptoms among pilots. Occupational and non-occupational risk factors for SRH, respira-tory symptoms and other symptoms among commercial pilots were investigated in this thesis. One cohort study and one prevalence study were performed among pilots in one Scandinavian airline company. Fungal DNA, furry pet allergens and volatile organic compounds of microbial origin (MVOC) were measured on board. Cat (fel d1), dog (Can f1) and horse (Ecu cx) allergens were found in all dust samples and allergen levels were 27-75 times higher in aircraft with textile seats as compared to leather surfaces. The sum of MVOCs in the cabin air was 3.7 times higher than in homes in Uppsala and 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol concentrations were 15-17 times higher. Asper-gillus/Penicillium DNA and Aspergillus versicolor DNA were more common in aircraft with textile seats. One fifth reported SRH as poor or fair, 62% had fatigue, 46% overweight/obesity and 71% insomnia. Poor or fair SRH was associated with overweight/obesity, lack of exercise, insomnia, low sense of coherence (SOC) and high work demand. Re-covery from work was worse among those with insomnia and low social support at work. Fatigue was more common among young or female pilots and related to insomnia and high work demand. Pilots flying MD80 or Saab 2000 aircraft had less fatigue. Pilots exposed to environmental tobacco (ETS) on board had more eye symptoms and fatigue which were reduced after the ban of smoking (in 1997). Pilots with increased work demand developed more rhinitis, dermal symptoms and fartigue and those with decreased work control developed more eye symptoms. The incidence of doctors’ diagnosed asthma and atopy were 2.4 and 16.6 per 1000 person years, respectively. Pilots changing type of flight got more airway infections. Those reporting decreased work control had a higher incidence of atopy. Risk factors in the home environment included ETS, dampness or mould, window pane condensation in winter and living in houses built after 1975. In conclusion, SRH and respiratory health among pilots are associated with specific occupational and non-occupational risk factors.

Bien que la relation entre l’état de santé perçu et les mesures de santé physique et mentale soit bien documentée dans les pays développés, très peu d’études ont examiné cette association dans le monde en développement, particulièrement en Afrique subsaharienne. De même, les études menées dans divers contextes sociaux ont documenté que les femmes et les personnes de plus faible statut socioéconomique (SSÉ) sont les plus susceptibles de porter un lourd fardeau des incapacités et de la mauvaise santé perçue, mais il n’est pas connu si ces associations existent aussi dans les pays africains. L'objectif général de cette recherche doctorale était d’aboutir à une meilleure compréhension de la stratification sociale de la santé en Afrique subsaharienne. Plus spécifiquement, cette étude visait à: 1) Examiner les associations entre la santé perçue et les mesures de santé physique et mentale (maladies chroniques, incapacités et dépression) parmi les adultes à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, et évaluer comment ces associations varient selon le sexe, le niveau d’éducation et l'âge; 2) Analyser les différences en matière d’incapacité cognitive et physique entre les hommes et les femmes âgés de 50 ans et plus à Ouagadougou et évaluer la mesure dans laquelle les différences observées pourraient être attribuables aux inégalités de genre en matière de conditions sociales et de santé à travers le cycle de vie; 3) Examiner la relation entre le SSÉ et une multitude de mesures d’incapacités parmi les adultes âgés de 18 ans et plus dans 18 pays d’Afrique subsaharienne et déterminer si les différences socioéconomiques dans les incapacités sont caractérisées par une divergence, convergence ou stabilité à travers l’âge. Les résultats de nos analyses sont présentés sous forme de trois articles scientifiques, qui se sont appuyés sur les données de l'Enquête santé réalisée en 2010 dans l'Observatoire de Population de Ouagadougou (OPO) et de la World Health Survey réalisée en 2002-2004 par l’OMS. Dans le premier article, nous avons trouvé que la mauvaise santé perçue était fortement associée aux maladies chroniques et aux incapacités, mais pas à la dépression. L’effet des incapacités sur la mauvaise santé perçue s’intensifiait avec l’âge et avec la diminution du niveau d’éducation. Par contre, l’effet des maladies chroniques semblait diminuer avec l’âge. Aucune variation selon le sexe n’était observée dans les associations de la santé perçue avec les maladies chroniques, les incapacités et la dépression. Ces résultats suggèrent que les différentes sous-populations définies selon le niveau d'éducation et l'âge pondèrent différemment les composantes de santé dans la santé perçue à Ouagadougou. Les résultats du second article indiquaient que le genre féminin était positivement associé à des niveaux plus élevés de détérioration cognitive et de mobilité réduite. L'excès des femmes dans ces incapacités était seulement partiellement expliqué par les inégalités de genre dans l’état nutritionnel, le statut matrimonial et, dans une moindre mesure, l'éducation. Ces résultats suggèrent que l’amélioration de l'état nutritionnel et des opportunités d'éducation à travers le cycle de vie pourrait prévenir la détérioration cognitive et la mobilité réduite et réduire partiellement l'excès féminin dans ces incapacités. Dans le troisième article, nous avons montré que le manque d'éducation était positivement associé à des niveaux plus élevés d'incapacités, et le différentiel d’état de santé fonctionnel entre les différents niveaux d'éducation restait stable à travers l'âge. Ces résultats suggèrent qu’en Afrique subsaharienne, comparativement aux individus hautement éduqués, les personnes faiblement éduquées ont moins de ressources économiques et sociales et de saines habitudes de vie qui ont des effets bénéfiques, constants sur la santé fonctionnelle selon l’âge. / Although the relationship between self-rated health (SRH) and physical and mental health is well documented in developed countries, very few studies have analyzed this association in the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, research in various social contexts has documented that disability and poor SRH are more common among women and persons with lower socioeconomic status (SES), but it is unclear whether these associations also hold in sub-Saharan African settings. The general objective of the present thesis was to better understand the social stratification in health in sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, this study aimed to: 1) To examine the associations of SRH with measures of physical and mental health (chronic diseases, functional limitations, and depression) among adults in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and how these associations vary by sex, education level, and age; 2) To analyze differences in cognitive impairment and mobility disability between older men and women in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and to assess the extent to which these differences could be attributable to gender inequalities in life course social and health conditions; 3) To examine the relationship between SES and multiple disability measures among adults aged 18 and older in 18 sub-Saharan African countries and to determine whether socioeconomic differences in disability are characterized by an increase, decrease or stability with increasing age. The results of our analyses are in three scientific research articles, which rest upon data taken from a cross-sectional interviewer-administered health survey conducted in 2010 in areas of the Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System, and the World Health Survey conducted in 2002-2004 by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the first article, poor SRH was strongly associated with chronic diseases and functional limitations, but not with depression. The effect of functional limitations on poor SRH intensified with age and with decreasing education level. In contrast, the effect of chronic diseases appeared to decrease with age. No variation by sex was observed in the associations of SRH with chronic diseases, functional limitations, and depression. These findings suggest that different subpopulations delineated by age and education level weight the components of health differently in their self-rated health in Ouagadougou. The results of the second article indicated that female gender was positively associated with higher levels of cognitive impairment and mobility disability. The female excess in these disabilities was only partially explained by gender differences in nutritional status, marital status and, to a lesser extent, education. These results suggest that enhancing nutritional status and educational opportunities throughout life span could prevent cognitive impairment and mobility disability and partly reduce the female excess in these disabilities. In the third article, we found that the lack of education was positively associated with poorer functional health, and the health gap between educational levels remains static with increasing age. These findings suggest that, in sub-Saharan Africa, compared to the well educated, the undereducated have fewer economic and social resources and health-promoting behaviors which have beneficial, albeit constant effects on functional health over the life course.

Leaders engaging in controlling leadership behaviours (CLB) has been connected to followers perceiving their basic needs thwarted. However, little research has been made in the organizational field to understand the implications of controlling leadership behaviours for employee well-being. The present study aimed to clarify this relation through understanding controlling leadership behaviours’ influence on employee health, as well as investigate the impact of both leader and employee gender on employees’ perception of  controlling leadership behaviours. A sample of 818 employees, representing the Swedish labour market, completed a questionnaire including measures of perceived controlling leadership behaviours and well-being in terms of self-rated health, burnout, self-rated job satisfaction and vigour. Results confirmed the notion that leaders’ controlling leadership behaviours, like other negative leadership behaviours, is associated with lowered well-being. Results also indicate that male employees perceive male leaders as more controlling than female employees do, while female leaders are perceived as equally controlling by both male and female employees. The gender of leaders exhibiting controlling leadership behaviours seem to have no association with employee well-being. The implications of gender on controlling leadership behaviours is still a question unanswered. Future studies should therefore continue exploring both leader and employee gender influence on CLB. / Ledare som använder sig av kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden har visat sig underminera basala psykologiska behov hos sina följare. Trots detta saknas det forskning på hur chefers kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden påverkar anställda. Denna studie syftade till att klargöra hur kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden påverkar anställdas hälsa, och undersöka hur såväl anställdas kön och chefens kön påverkar de anställdas uppfattning av chefens kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden. Ett randomiserat urval på 818 arbetstagare svarade på frågor om uppfattat kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden hos sin chef och självskattad hälsa i termer av självskattad hälsa, utbrändhet, arbetstillfredsställelse och arbetsenergi. Resultaten bekräftade att kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden hos chefer är relaterat till sämre hälsa och arbetsprestation hos de anställda, samt ökar viljan att sluta. Manliga anställda uppfattar manliga chefer som mer kontrollerande jämfört med sina kvinnliga kollegor, medan kvinnliga chefer uppfattas lika kontrollerande av både manliga som kvinnliga anställda. Den kontrollerande chefens könstillhörighet var inte associerat med anställdas mående. Hur könsaspekter påverkar kontrollerande ledarskapsbeteenden är fortfarande inte klarlagt. Framtida studier bör därför fortsätta undersöka hur både chefens och den anställdas kön influerar CLB.

CONTEXTE : La France est caractérisée par l’existence de fortes disparités socioéconomiques et géographiquesde l’état de santé, le plus souvent objectivées par des indicateurs objectifs de morbidité et de mortalité. Ladistribution territoriale des mesures de santé perçue comme la qualité de vie liée à la santé (QdVLS) reste malconnue en population générale. Une meilleure connaissance de la répartition et des déterminants – en particuliercontextuels - de ces indicateurs subjectifs permettrait de mieux comprendre leur signification par rapport auxindicateurs objectifs et d’apprécier l’intérêt spécifique de leur suivi en population générale.OBJECTIFS : Les objectifs de cette recherche étaient [1] d’étudier l’existence de disparités spatiales de QdVLSdans la population française et d’analyser leur évolution dans le temps, [2] d’étudier les déterminants de laQdVLS à la fois individuels et contextuels dans le cadre d’une analyse multiniveau, et [3] d’évaluer lesassociations écologiques entre QdVLS et mortalité ultérieure à cinq ans d’intervalle.MATERIEL ET METHODES : Les données issues de deux enquêtes transversales nationales représentatives ont étéexploitées : l’enquête Décennale 2003 de l’Insee pour l’ensemble des travaux menés (N=22 743 [1 et 3] ; N=16 732 [2]) et l’enquête Sofres 1995 pour l’analyse de l’évolution temporelle de la QdVLS (N=3 243 [1]). Lequestionnaire utilisé dans les deux enquêtes était le SF-36. [1] Des modèles de régression linéaire multiple àeffets fixes avec recherche d’interactions ont été réalisés pour l’analyse de l’évolution temporelle. [2] L’analysemultiniveau des déterminants contextuels de la QdVLS s’appuyait sur des modèles à effets mixtes, afind’explorer une chaine causale incluant des déterminants aux niveaux individuel, du ménage, de l’unité urbaine etrégional, d’ordre démographique, socioéconomique ou intégrant la notion contextuelle plus complexed’attractivité (taux migratoire, désindustrialisation). [3] Les données de mortalité étaient issues de la statistiquenationale des décès élaborée annuellement par le CépiDc. Des modèles de régression binomiale négative ont étéréalisés pour l’analyse des associations écologiques au niveau régional entre QdVLS en 2003 et mortalitéultérieure (court terme [2003-2005] ; à 5 ans [2007-2009]) et en stratifiant sur le sexe, l’âge et les causesspécifiques de décès.RESULTATS PRINCIPAUX : [1] Une diminution significative de la QdVLS était observée entre 1995 et 2003affectant tous les groupes sociodémographiques et suggérant la possibilité d’un accroissement des disparités pourles catégories les plus fragiles de la population. [2] De fortes disparités régionales de QdVLS étaient retrouvées,persistant après ajustement sur les caractéristiques socioéconomiques individuelles. L’analyse multiniveaupermettait d’identifier des processus de médiation impliquant les variables contextuelles de désindustrialisation,le taux d’accroissement migratoire, le taux d’abstention aux élections, et les comportements liés à la santé. Desinteractions inter-niveaux et intra-régionales étaient identifiées. [3] Des associations écologiques significativesétaient retrouvées au niveau régional entre QdVLS et mortalité à cinq ans d’intervalle, persistant aprèsajustement sur le niveau socioéconomique. Des relations spécifiques étaient observées après stratification surl’âge, le genre, les causes spécifiques de décès ; le caractère prédictif de la QdVLS variait selon le délai plus oumoins court entre mesure de la QdVLS et mortalité. / BACKGROUND: Wide social and geographical disparities are reported in France for morbidity and mortalityindicators. Less is known regarding the spatial distribution in general population of self-rated health (SRH) andhealth-related quality of life (HRQoL). Improving the knowledge of the contextual determinants of HRQoLwould help towards a better understanding of their meaning and interest in general population when it comes tocompare with classical objective indicators.OBJECTIVES: The objectives were [1] to assess existing spatial disparities of HRQoL in French generalpopulation and to investigate their evolution in time, [2] to determine individual and contextual determinants ofHRQoL and [3] to explore the ecological associations between HRQoL and subsequent mortality five years later.METHODS: Data were drawn from two large representative cross sectional surveys: the Insee Decennial HealthSurvey led in 2003 (N=22 743 [study 1 and 3] ; N= 16 732 [2]) and the Sofres health survey led in 1995(N=3243 [1]).The MOS SF-36 questionnaire was used in both surveys. [1] Fixed effects linear models combinedwith interaction tests were used for assessing time trends. [2] Mixed effects linear models were used for themultilevel analysis, exploring a causal pathway including individual and macrolevel factors (household, urbanunit and region) assessing demographics, socioeconomics, and features related to the notion of areaattractiveness (deindustrialization, net migration rates). [3] Mortality data were drawn from the French nationalstatistics of mortality (CepiDc-Inserm). Negative binomial regression models were performed to identifyecological associations at the region level between HRQoL recorded in 2003 and subsequent mortality (shortterm [2003-2005]; 5-years later [2007-2009]), stratifying on age, gender and specific causes of death.MAIN RESULTS: [1] A significant decrease in HRQoL was observed between 1995 and 2003, affecting allsociodemographic categories and suggesting likely widening disparities in the most fragile categories. [2]Regional HRQoL disparities were found, persisting after adjusting on socioeconomic individual characteristics.Multilevel analysis showed some evidence for mediation involving contextual factors like deindustrialization,net migration rates, voter abstention rate and health-related behaviors. Cross-level interactions were found aswell. [3] Significant ecological associations were identified at the region level between HRQoL and mortalityfive years later, persisting after adjusting on deprivation. Specific relationships were observed after stratifying onage, gender, specific causes of death; the predictive ability of HRQoL for mortality was varying depending onthe mortality period considered for analysis.CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the interest in assessing HRQoL at the population level and in exploringthe contextual determinants at play. Systematic inclusion of validated and multidimensional HRQoLquestionnaires should be supported in national surveys, so as to improve our knowledge of long term temporaltrends in HRQoL, to promote an increased use of contextual multilevel analyses using such data, and eventuallyto help better identifying sub-groups at risk and optimizing public health interventions.

Today, many organisations are adopting offices that have an open design with or without flexible seating. While advocates of open-plan offices propose that these office types lead to cost savings and aid inter and intra-team communication, opponents argue that these office types are associated with decreased performance and worsened health among employees. This thesis investigates how the type of office (cell offices, shared room offices, small open-plan offices, medium-sized open plan offices, large open-plan offices and flex offices) influences employee health and performance, and whether this is different for different personalities and jobs with different concentration demands. Data were gathered by means of surveys and cognitive tests from five organisations with different office types. In Study I (N=1241), the aim was to investigate the main effect of office type on indicators of health and performance and the interaction effect of office type with the need to concentrate in order to carry out work tasks. Office type alone was associated with distraction and cognitive stress in such a way that cell offices were associated with fewest problems, followed by flex offices, while open-plan offices were associated with the most problems. While employees in open-plan offices and employees in flex offices reported more problems as the need for concentration increased, employees in cell offices reported the same level of problems regardless of the need of concentration. Study II (N=527) investigated how performance on a memory test was affected during normal working conditions as compared to a quiet baseline. There was a negative dose-response relationship between the size of the open-plan office environment and the drop in word recall during the normal working condition. However, Study II also showed that individuals working in cell offices had as high a drop in performance during normal working conditions as did those working in large open-plan office environments. Study III (N=1133–1171) focused on the interaction effect between office type and individual differences in personality. The personality trait agreeableness interacted with office type on the outcome variables distraction and job satisfaction. Specifically, Study III may indicate that as offices get more open and flexible, agreeable people will report more problems. In conclusion, the studies in the present thesis have implications for practice and suggest that office type impacts on employee health and performance, while concentration demands of the job and agreeableness moderate the effects. Although employees report higher level of distraction in open-plan office environments, when performance on a demanding task is measured, cell offices are not as favourable during normal working conditions as self-reported data usually indicate. Organisations should also be aware that, among open-plan offices, small open-plan offices are associated with fewer problems. / Kontorslandskap med eller utan fasta arbetsstationer förekommer idag i många organisationer. Förespråkare för kontorslandskap hänvisar till kostnadsbesparing samt förbättrade förutsättningar för kommunikation, medan motståndare hävdar att kontorslandskap leder till försämrad prestation och hälsa bland medarbetarna. Denna avhandling undersöker om kontorstyp påverkar de anställdas hälsa och prestation, samt om effekten av kontorstyp varierar beroende på de anställdas personlighet och typ av arbetsuppgifter. Data i form av enkätsvar och prestation på kognitiva tester samlades in från fem organisationer med olika typer av kontorslösningar (cellkontor, delade kontorsrum, små kontorslandskap, mellanstora kontorslandskap, stora kontorslandskap och flexkontor). I studie I (N = 1241) var syftet att undersöka huvudeffekten av kontorstyp på indikatorer för hälsa och prestation samt om effekten är beroende av koncentrationskraven i arbetet. Kontorstyp visade samband med distraktion och kognitiv stress på så sätt att medarbetare i cellkontor uppgav minst problem, följt av de i flexkontor, medan kontorslandskap var förknippade med mer problem. Vidare rapporterade anställda som hade arbetsuppgifter som krävde koncentration mer problem i kontorslandskap och flexkontor, medan anställda i cellkontor, oavsett arbetets krav, rapporterade lika mycket problem. I studie II (N = 527) undersöktes hur prestation på ett minnestest påverkades under normala arbetsförhållanden jämfört med en tyst referensmätning i olika kontorstyper. Det fanns ett negativt dos-responssamband mellan storleken på kontorslandskapet och hur många procent sämre medarbetare presterade under normala arbetsförhållanden. Men Studie II visade också att personer som arbetar i cellkontor hade ett lika högt bortfall i prestation under normala arbetsförhållanden som de som arbetade i stora kontorslandskap. I studie III (N = 1133-1171) låg fokus på interaktionseffekten mellan kontorstyp och personlighet. Vänlighet var den enda personlighetsvariabeln som interagerade med kontorstyp på utfallsvariablerna distraktion och arbetstillfredsställelse. Mer specifikt visade Studie III att när kontoret blir mer öppet och flexibelt, så rapporterar människor som skattar sig högt på personlighetsvariabeln vänlighet fler problem. Resultaten i avhandlingen kan få flera praktiska implikationer då den visar att kontorstyp påverkar medarbetarnas hälsa och prestation, medan koncentrationskrävande arbetsuppgifter och vänlighet modererar effekterna. Vidare visar avhandlingen att även om anställda rapporterar mindre distraktion i cellkontor jämfört med i kontorslandskap, behöver inte cellkontor vara lika gynnsamma som självskattade mått visar när prestationen mäts med objektiva mått under normala arbetsförutsättningar, i det här fallet ett minnestest. Slutligen bör organisationer även vara medvetna om att avhandlingen visar en viss tendens att små kontorslandskap är förknippade med mindre problem än stora. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Manuscript.</p>

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med studien var att undersöka samband mellan socialt stöd och nätverk gentemot upplevd fysisk och psykisk hälsa hos gymnasielever i årskurs tre. Frågeställningarna var huruvida det fanns några samband mellan socialt stöd och nätverk gentemot upplevd fysisk och psykisk hälsa, vilken form av socialt stöd och nätverk som var mest relevant och vilken roll dess storlek har, samt om det fanns några skillnader mellan könen i förhållandet till socialt stöd och nätverk. Metod Undersökningen är en explorativ och kvantitativ enkätstudie där totalt 326 individer från olika skolor i Eskilstuna, Stockholm och Filipstad ingick. Åldern på deltagarna varierade mellan 17 och 21 år och medelålder var 18 (±0,7) år. 198 var tjejer och 123 killar, fem personer ville ej svara på frågan eller uppfattade sig inte som något av alternativen. Deltagarna besvarade frågor med fasta svarsalternativ kring kvalitén på sitt sociala stöd och storleken på sitt sociala nätverk, samt om upplevd fysisk och psykisk hälsa. Därefter genomfördes olika korrelationsobservationer för att finna eventuella samband mellan de olika faktorerna. Deltagarna till studien har valts utifrån ett icke slumpmässigt, till viss del typiskt, bekvämlighetsmässigt urval. Resultat Signifikanta positiva samband noterades mellan graden av socialt stöd (kvalitet) och upplevd psykisk respektive fysisk hälsa. Starkast korrelation fanns mellan psykisk hälsa och socialt stöd (r = 0,46). Svaga positiva korrelationer fanns mellan antalet (kvantitet) vänner (r = 0,19) respektive familjemedlemmar och släktingar (r = 0,19) gentemot psykisk hälsa, och i förhållande till familj och släkt även den fysiska (r = 0,14). Inga signifikanta skillnader kunde ses mellan könen. Slutsats Studiens hypotes om en positiv samvariation mellan upplevd hälsa och socialt stöd och nätverk stämde i de flesta fall och kvalitet visade sig vara överordnad kvantitet. / Aim The purpose of this study was to examine relations between social support and networks, against the perceived physical and mental health of high school students in grade three. The question formulations were whether there was any correlation between social support and networks against perceived physical and mental health, which form of social support and network that were most relevant and what role its size has, and if there were any gender differences in relation to social support and networks. Method The study is an exploratory and quantitative survey in which a total of 326 individuals were included from various schools in Eskilstuna, Stockholm and Filipstad. The age of the participants ranged between 17 and 21 years, and mean age was 18 (±0.7) years, 198 were girls and 123 boys, five people did not answer the question or did not perceived themselves as either one of the options. The participants answered questions with response sets about the quality of their social support and the size of their social network and perceived physical and mental health. After that, observations were completed to find eventual correlations between the different factors. Participants for this study were selected on a non-random, somewhat typical, conveniences based method. Results Significant positive correlations were observed between the degree of social support (quality) and perceived mental and physical health Strongest correlation was found between mental health and social support (r = 0,46). Low positive correlation was found between the number (quantity) of friends (r = 0,19) and family/relatives (r = 0,19) in relation to mental health, and in relation to family and relatives also the physical health (r = 0,14). No significant differences were seen between the sexes. Conclusion The study’s hypothesis of a positive correlation between perceived health and social support and network sued in most cases, and the quality was shown to be superior to the quantity.

This study assessed the effect of variables such as life satisfaction, self-rated health, social support and coping styles on subjective well-being. The level of subjective well-being was studied in a sample of Mexican elderly persons from the state of Yucatan in Merida (n = 122) with an age range of 60-93 years. The results in women show that coping styles predicts subjective well-being in negative affects. Moreover, self-perception of health, coping styles, and satisfaction with life are adequate predictors of the cognitive dimension of subjective well-being. Results in men show that satisfaction with life and coping styles predict the cognitive dimension of subjective well-being. Findings point to the importance of exploring psychosocial variables in older adults. / El presente estudio evaluó el efecto de las variables satisfacción con la vida, autopercepción de salud, apoyo social y estilos de enfrentamiento sobre el bienestar subjetivo. Se contó con una muestra de 122 adultos mayores mexicanos del Estado de Yucatán, en la ciudad de Mérida con un rango de edad de 60 a 93 años. Los resultados en mujeres muestran que los estilos de enfrentamiento son predictores del bienestar subjetivo en los afectos negativos. En cuanto a la dimensión cognitiva del bienestar subjetivo, la autopercepción de salud, los estilos de enfrentamiento y la satisfacción con la vida fueron predictores adecuados. En hombres, los resultados demuestran que la dimensión cognitiva del bienestar subjetivo fue predicha a partir de la satisfacción con la vida y los estilos de enfrentamiento. Los hallazgos muestran la importancia del profundizar y promover variables psicosociales en los adultos mayores. / Cette étude a évalué l’effet de la satisfaction de la vie, de l’auto-perception de la santé, du soutien social et des styles d’adaptation sur les variables de bien-être subjectif. Nous avons étudié le niveau de bien-être subjectif d’un échantillon de 122 Mexicains âgés de l’État du Yucatan, dans la ville de Mérida, âgés de 60 à 93 ans. Les résultats chez les femmes montrent que les styles d’adaptation sont des facteurs prédictifs du bien-être subjectif des affects négatifs, en termes de la dimension cognitive du bien-être subjectif, l’auto-perception de la santé, les styles de confrontation et de satisfaction avec la vie étaient des prédicteurs adéquats, tandis que chez les hommes, les résultats montrent que la dimension cognitive du bien-être subjectif est prévu de satisfaction de la vie et les styles d’adaptation. Les résultats montrent l’importance d’approfondir et de promouvoir les variables psychosociales chez les personnes âgées. / Este estudo avaliou o efeito de variáveis, satisfação com a vida, autopercepção de saúde, apoio social e estilos de coping no bem-estar subjetivo. o nível de bem-estar subjetivo foi estudado no estado de uma amostra de adultos mexicanos mais antiga do Yucatan em Merida (n = 122) com uma faixa etária de 60-93 anos. Os resultados em mulheres mais antiga mostram que os estilos de enfrentamento são preditores de bem-estar subjetivo em efeito negativo em termos da dimensão cognitiva do bem-estar de saúde subjetiva auto-avaliação, estilos e satisfação com a vida de enfrentamento foram preditores adequados em homens mais antiga resultados mostram que a dimensão cognitiva do bem-estar subjetivo está previsto a partir de satisfação com a vida e estilos de enfrentamento.