abstract: 'Objective: To investigate the relationship between social integration

  and mortality at the aggregate level of analysis.

  Method: The data were compiled from several Australian Bureau of

  Statistics documents. The unit of analysis was State (Territory)-year.

  The multivariate regression analysis included data from all States and

  the Australian Capital Territory for 1990-96. Five indicators of social

  integration percentage of people living alone; divorce rate;

  unemployment rate; proportion of people who are discouraged job seekers;

  and unionisation rate - were used as predictors of nine measures of

  mortality.

  Results: Higher levels of social integration, as measured by all

  indicators except unionisation, were associated with lower mortality

  rates. In the case of unionisation, higher levels were associated with

  increased mortality rates.

  Conclusion: Studies concerning the relationship between social

  integration and health should investigate the `type'' and `level'' of

  social integration that is conducive to better health.

  Implications: To help reduce disparities in health and mortality across

  communities, public health researchers and policy makers need to closely

  monitor geographic and temporal trends in social integration measures.

  Social policies that emphasise investment in social integration or

  social capital through job creation and training, provision of gainful

  employment and social services for discouraged and marginalised workers,

  improved work conditions and social support may lower mortality directly

  or through their beneficial effects on health-promoting behaviours such

  as reduced levels of smelting, drinking and physical inactivity.'
affiliation: 'Siahpush, M (Corresponding Author), La Trobe Univ, Fac Humanities \&
  Social Sci, POB 821,Parkers Rd, Wodonga, Vic 3689, Australia.

  La Trobe Univ, Fac Humanities \& Social Sci, Wodonga, Vic 3689, Australia.

  NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA.'
author: Siahpush, M and Singh, GK
author_list:
- family: Siahpush
  given: M
- family: Singh
  given: GK
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-842X.1999.tb01539.x
files: []
issn: 1326-0200
journal: AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
keywords-plus: INCOME INEQUALITY; HEALTH; POPULATION
language: English
month: DEC
number: '6'
number-of-cited-references: '28'
pages: 571-577
papis_id: e84b8bc019fce437f9cab0e743e1a3b5
ref: Siahpush1999socialintegration
times-cited: '22'
title: Social integration and mortality in Australia
type: Article
unique-id: WOS:000084333500002
usage-count-last-180-days: '0'
usage-count-since-2013: '3'
volume: '23'
web-of-science-categories: Public, Environmental \& Occupational Health
year: '1999'