Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada
Abstract Background Individuals adopt particular health-related practices according to what is structurally possible for them. Given that many health-related practices and obesity are patterned by socioeconomic position (SEP) and strongly linked with mortality, they may represent mechanisms through...
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2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23728-7 |
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| author | Dana Lee Olstad Sara Nejatinamini Seyed Hosseini Pozveh Jenny Godley Gavin R. McCormack Lin Yang Tolulope T. Sajobi |
| author_facet | Dana Lee Olstad Sara Nejatinamini Seyed Hosseini Pozveh Jenny Godley Gavin R. McCormack Lin Yang Tolulope T. Sajobi |
| author_sort | Dana Lee Olstad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Individuals adopt particular health-related practices according to what is structurally possible for them. Given that many health-related practices and obesity are patterned by socioeconomic position (SEP) and strongly linked with mortality, they may represent mechanisms through which SEP becomes biologically embedded and influences mortality risk. This study quantified whether and to what extent health-related practices (current/former smoking, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, excess alcohol intake) and obesity mediate associations between SEP and all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada. Methods This was a prospective, population-based cohort study of adults (≥ 35 years; n = 308,635) who participated in the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey. Data from eight survey cycles (2000/2001–2011) were linked to mortality records in the Canadian Mortality Database (2000–2013). Household income adequacy and educational attainment were used to generate a latent variable representing SEP at baseline. Participants also self-reported smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol intake and BMI at baseline. Generalized Structural Equation Modeling was performed to evaluate pathways linking SEP with all-cause and cancer mortality mediated by health-related practices (current/former smoking, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, excess alcohol intake) and obesity in males and females. Results Health-related practices and obesity did not collectively mediate associations between lower SEP and all-cause or cancer mortality in males or females. However, current/former smoking mediated associations between lower SEP and all-cause (males: HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01, 1.12; females: HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 0.99) and cancer mortality (males: HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01, 1.12; females: HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 0.99) in males and females, and physical inactivity mediated associations between lower SEP and all-cause mortality in females (HR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.21). Low fruit and vegetable intake, excess alcohol intake and obesity did not mediate associations between lower SEP and mortality. Conclusions Smoking and physical activity may represent mechanisms through which SEP becomes biologically embedded and shapes the risk of mortality among adults in Canada. However, most of the associations between SEP and mortality remained unexplained; thus, additional studies are needed to understand other pathways of biological embedding. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0d9d8aca6fce48d59bd8e47641a3ed37 |
| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0d9d8aca6fce48d59bd8e47641a3ed372025-08-20T03:46:12ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111510.1186/s12889-025-23728-7Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in CanadaDana Lee Olstad0Sara Nejatinamini1Seyed Hosseini Pozveh2Jenny Godley3Gavin R. McCormack4Lin Yang5Tolulope T. Sajobi6Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryCancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Cancer Control Alberta, Alberta Health ServicesDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgaryAbstract Background Individuals adopt particular health-related practices according to what is structurally possible for them. Given that many health-related practices and obesity are patterned by socioeconomic position (SEP) and strongly linked with mortality, they may represent mechanisms through which SEP becomes biologically embedded and influences mortality risk. This study quantified whether and to what extent health-related practices (current/former smoking, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, excess alcohol intake) and obesity mediate associations between SEP and all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada. Methods This was a prospective, population-based cohort study of adults (≥ 35 years; n = 308,635) who participated in the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey. Data from eight survey cycles (2000/2001–2011) were linked to mortality records in the Canadian Mortality Database (2000–2013). Household income adequacy and educational attainment were used to generate a latent variable representing SEP at baseline. Participants also self-reported smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol intake and BMI at baseline. Generalized Structural Equation Modeling was performed to evaluate pathways linking SEP with all-cause and cancer mortality mediated by health-related practices (current/former smoking, physical inactivity, low fruit and vegetable intake, excess alcohol intake) and obesity in males and females. Results Health-related practices and obesity did not collectively mediate associations between lower SEP and all-cause or cancer mortality in males or females. However, current/former smoking mediated associations between lower SEP and all-cause (males: HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01, 1.12; females: HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 0.99) and cancer mortality (males: HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01, 1.12; females: HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95, 0.99) in males and females, and physical inactivity mediated associations between lower SEP and all-cause mortality in females (HR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.21). Low fruit and vegetable intake, excess alcohol intake and obesity did not mediate associations between lower SEP and mortality. Conclusions Smoking and physical activity may represent mechanisms through which SEP becomes biologically embedded and shapes the risk of mortality among adults in Canada. However, most of the associations between SEP and mortality remained unexplained; thus, additional studies are needed to understand other pathways of biological embedding.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23728-7Socioeconomic positionSmokingPhysical activityFruit and vegetable intakeAlcohol intakeObesity |
| spellingShingle | Dana Lee Olstad Sara Nejatinamini Seyed Hosseini Pozveh Jenny Godley Gavin R. McCormack Lin Yang Tolulope T. Sajobi Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada BMC Public Health Socioeconomic position Smoking Physical activity Fruit and vegetable intake Alcohol intake Obesity |
| title | Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada |
| title_full | Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada |
| title_short | Embodying disadvantage: a theoretically-informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all-cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in Canada |
| title_sort | embodying disadvantage a theoretically informed analysis of pathways linking socioeconomic position with all cause and cancer mortality in a nationally representative cohort of adults in canada |
| topic | Socioeconomic position Smoking Physical activity Fruit and vegetable intake Alcohol intake Obesity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23728-7 |
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