Cultural capital and smoking in young adults: applying new indicators to explore social inequalities in health behaviour

• DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckv069
• Publication Date: 2015-04-11T03:32:51Z
• Authors: Thierry Gagné; Katherine L. Froh...; Thomas Abel
• Keywords: Educational Attainment; Exploratory factor analysis; Health indicator

Associations between social status and health behaviours are well documented, but the mechanisms involved less understood. Cultural capital theory may contribute to a better understanding by expanding scope of inequality indicators include individuals' knowledge, skills, beliefs material goods examine how these impact lifestyles. We explore structure applicability set cultural in empirical exploration smoking behaviour among young male adults.We analysed data from Swiss Federal Survey Adolescents (CH-X) 2010-11 panel males (n = 10 736). A nine theoretically relevant variables (including incorporated, institutionalized objectified capital) were investigated using exploratory factor analysis. Regression models run observe association scores outcomes. Outcome measures consisted daily number cigarettes smoked smokers.Cultural aggregated three-factor solution representing 'health values', 'education knowledge' 'family resources'. Each score predicted In males, scoring low on values, education knowledge family resources was associated with higher risk being smoker more daily.Cultural that include, go beyond, educational attainment can improve prediction adults. New thus our status-based individuals use towards behaviours.