How Do Health and Social Networks Compare between Low-Income Multiproblem Households and the General Population?

Abstract

Multiproblem households that receive social care for multiple problems, such as debts, psychiatric disorders, and domestic violence, may also be disadvantaged in terms of health and social networks. This study examines whether low-income multiproblem households and the general population differ in self-perceived health, mental health, health behaviors, and social networks. We performed a cross-sectional survey among respondents from low-income multiproblem households (n = 105) and the general population (n = 99) in the municipality of Apeldoorn in the Netherlands. Comparisons with national statistics data indicated that our sample of multiproblem households is more disadvantaged in terms of self-perceived health and mental health than low socioeconomic groups in general in the Netherlands. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being part of the multiproblem household group versus the general population group was associated with a lower educational level, a lower likelihood of being in paid employment, a lower score with respect to mental health, less alcohol consumption, and less fruit consumption. There were also differences between the groups on other variables, but these were not significant in adjusted analyses. In conclusion, multiproblem households in Apeldoorn had lower scores on mental health, drank fewer alcoholic drinks per week, and ate less fruit than the general population.

Quality of Life and Associated Factors in Young Workers

“…This result may be partially explained by the fact that the workers in this study were mostly young. Another explanation could be that as alcohol consumption is often associated with moments of leisure and partying, it may subjectively be perceived as spending quality time [ 25 , 27 ].…”

Bespreekbaar maken van gezonde leefstijl en het sociale netwerk bij multiprobleemgezinnen door sociaal werkers

“…Mensen die in hun gezin te maken hebben met multiproblematiek leven vaak ongezonder dan de rest van de bevolking. Ze bewegen minder, eten vaker ongezonde voeding en hebben een minder goede ervaren gezondheid [2]. Daarnaast is het sociale netwerk bij deze groep mensen vaak minder groot en ervaren ze meer eenzaamheid [1,2].…”

“…Ze bewegen minder, eten vaker ongezonde voeding en hebben een minder goede ervaren gezondheid [2]. Daarnaast is het sociale netwerk bij deze groep mensen vaak minder groot en ervaren ze meer eenzaamheid [1,2]. Mensen die zich gezonder voelen kunnen ook beter met problemen omgaan, terwijl een goed sociaal netwerk bij bepaalde problemen als hulpbron kan worden ingezet.…”

Reasons for (not) participating in a community‐based health promotion program for low‐income multi‐problem households in the Netherlands: A qualitative study

“…People living in low‐income multi‐problem households do not only have financial and psychosocial problems for which they need professional social care but they also often have a less healthy lifestyle and less social contacts than the general population with, for example, lower levels of physical activity, less healthy nutrition and more loneliness (Nagelhout, Abidi, & De Vries, 2019). It is often difficult for people to start and keep living more healthily on their own, especially for people from vulnerable groups such as people with a low socioeconomic position (Fitzgerald & Spaccarotella, 2009) and people living in multi‐problem households (Nagelhout, Hogeling, Spruijt, Postma, & De Vries, 2017).…”