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Health, economy and social capital in Nordic children and their families: a comparison between 1984 and 1996.

OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to analyse the development in the health of children that occurred in the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) between 1984 and 1996 and relate it to the changes in economic growth and social capital in these countries during the same period.


METHODS
Two cross-sectional studies covered a representative sample of children, aged 2-17 years in each country, a total of 10,291 in 1984 and 10,317 in 1996. The data were collected by mailed questionnaires. Statistical associations between a health indicator (the absence of psychosomatic complaints), economic indicators (social class, housing and disposable income) and social capital indicators (parents' and children's organized group activities, parents playing with their children and the absence of bullying) within samples and between corresponding values in different samples across subgroups (defined by country and area of residence) were evaluated using multiple linear regression.


RESULTS
In both surveys, there was a statistically highly significant association between the health indicator and the social capital indicators, whereas the economy indicators were not related to either of the other two types of measure. Change in health was associated positively with change in social capital and negatively with change in economy.


CONCLUSION
The study provides strong support for the concept of social capital as an important determinant of children's health.