Intersectionality on the perception of health in two cross-national surveys (WVS and EVS)

Pilar Rodriguez Martinez; Francisco Villegas Lirola

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29319

Intersectionality on the perception of health in two cross-national surveys (WVS and EVS)

Heliyon. 2024 Apr 6;10(8):e29319. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29319. eCollection 2024 Apr 30.

Authors

Pilar Rodriguez Martinez¹, Francisco Villegas Lirola²

Affiliations

¹ University of Almeria, Department of Geography, History and Humanities, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Research Group Investigación Internacional Comparada (HUM1028), Spain.
² University of Almeria, Department of Education, Investigator of the Research Group Diversity, Disability and Needs educational Specials (HUM782), Spain.

Abstract

This article focuses on the health perceptions of people across social strata and nations using the combined dataset of the World Values Survey and the European Values Study (EVS/WVS). An intercategorical intersectional analysis model was developed to examine the social determinants underlying differences in health perceptions. Using logistic regression of the interactions between sex, age, level of educational attainment and income, we calculated the impact of these variables (main effects) and their interactions within the intersecting categories on health perceptions. The group with the best perception of their health includes men aged 16-49, with a high income and an upper-middle level of education. Comparative analysis has been carried out to identify differences in the influence of intersectional categories across countries. Of particular relevance is the number of Eastern European countries where the perception of people aged 50 and over with low income is very poor.

Keywords: Intercategorical intersectional analysis; Perceived health status; Social strata; World values survey and european values study (EVS/WVS).