Are Baby Boomers healthier than Generation X? A profile of Australia's working generations using National Health Survey data

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 3; p. e93087
• Main Authors: Pilkington, Rhiannon, Taylor, Anne W, Hugo, Graeme, Wittert, Gary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.03.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Aged; Australia - epidemiology; Baby boom generation; Baby boomers; Biology and Life Sciences; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; Body weight; Brochures; Chronic illnesses; Cohort Effect; Confidence intervals; Demographics; Dependent variables; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Discipline; Education; Employment; Exercise; Female; Females; Generation X; Generational differences; Health care; Health Status Disparities; Health Surveys; Households; Humans; Independent variables; Labor force; Life expectancy; Male; Males; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Overweight; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Population; Population Growth; Prevalence; Public health; Quality of life; Regression analysis; Regression models; Research and Analysis Methods; Response rates; Smoking; Smoking - epidemiology; Statistical analysis; Surveys; Unemployment; Workforce; Australia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093087

To determine differences in sociodemographic and health related characteristics of Australian Baby Boomers and Generation X at the same relative age. The 1989/90 National Health Survey (NHS) for Boomers (1946-1965) and the 2007/08 NHS for Generation Xers (1966-1980) was used to compare the cohorts at the same age of 25-44 years. Generational differences for males and females in education, employment, smoking, physical activity, Body Mass Index (BMI), self-rated health, and diabetes were determined using Z tests. Prevalence estimates and p-values are reported. Logistic regression models examining overweight/obesity (BMI≥25) and diabetes prevalence as the dependent variables, with generation as the independent variable were adjusted for sex, age, education, physical activity, smoking and BMI(diabetes model only). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals are reported. At the same age, tertiary educational attainment was higher among Generation X males (27.6% vs. 15.2% p<0.001) and females (30.0% vs. 10.6% p<0.001). Boomer females had a higher rate of unemployment (5.6% vs. 2.5% p<0.001). Boomer males and females had a higher prevalence of "excellent" self-reported health (35.9% vs. 21.8% p<0.001; 36.3% vs. 25.1% p<0.001) and smoking (36.3% vs. 30.4% p<0.001; 28.3% vs. 22.3% p<0.001). Generation X males (18.3% vs. 9.4% p<0.001) and females (12.7% vs. 10.4% p = 0.015) demonstrated a higher prevalence of obesity (BMI>30). There were no differences in physical activity. Modelling indicated that Generation X were more likely than Boomers to be overweight/obese (OR:2.09, 1.77-2.46) and have diabetes (OR:1.79, 1.47-2.18). Self-rated health has deteriorated while obesity and diabetes prevalence has increased. This may impact workforce participation and health care utilization in the future.