Economic shocks and health resilience: lessons from the Russian Federation
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Background Despite extensive research on determinants of health, there is much less information on factors protecting health among those
exposed to economic shocks. Using longitudinal data from the Russian Federation in the post-Soviet period, we examined individual-level factors
that enhance resilience of health to economic shocks.
Methods Logistic regression analysed factors associated with good self-assessed health (SAH) and health resilience, using pooled samples from
the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey-Higher School of Economics (1994–2012).
Results The general population consistently reported ‘average’ SAH, indicating almost invariant trends over the years. Male gender was the
strongest predictor of good SAH and health resilience. Other factors positively associated with good SAH were age, higher education,
employment, residing in rural areas, living in a larger and/or non-poor household. Among unemployed and those remaining unemployed, residing
in rural areas, living in a larger and/or non-poor household remained the strongest predictors of good SAH and health resilience. These same
factors were also important for males with recent job loss.
Conclusions Several factors predicting good SAH in the general population also influence health resilience factors among those remaining
unemployed and experiencing a job loss. Such factors help to identify those most vulnerable and aid targeting assistance during economic crises.
JOUR
Gordeev, Vladimir S.
Goryakin, Yevgeniy
McKee, Martin
Stuckler, David
Roberts, Bayard
2015
Journal of Public Health
37
3
20151117
2779