Status quo bias and health behavior: findings from a cross-sectional study.
Journal
European journal of public health
ISSN: 1464-360X
Titre abrégé: Eur J Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 9204966
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 10 2019
01 10 2019
Historique:
pubmed:
20
2
2019
medline:
6
10
2020
entrez:
20
2
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Status quo bias (SQB) has often been referred to as an important tool for improving public health. However, very few studies were able to link SQB with health behavior. Analysis were based on data from the population-based KORA S4 study (1999-2001, n = 2309). We operationalized SQB through two questions. The first asked whether participants switched their health insurance for financial benefits since this was enabled in 1996. Those who did were assigned a 'very low SQB' (n = 213). Participants who did not switch were asked a second hypothetical question regarding switching costs. We assigned 'low SQB' to those who indicated low switching costs (n = 1035), 'high SQB' to those who indicated high switching costs (n = 588), and 'very high SQB' to those who indicated infinite switching costs (n = 473). We tested the association between SQB and physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, the sum of health behaviors, and body mass index (BMI) using logistic, Poisson and ordinary least square regression models, respectively. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, income, satisfaction with current health insurance and morbidity. SQB was associated with a higher rate of physical inactivity [OR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.11; 1.35)], a higher sum of unhealthy lifestyle factors [IRR = 1.05, 95% CI (1.01; 1.10)] and a higher BMI [β = 0.30, 95% CI (0.08; 0.51)]. A high SQB was associated with unfavorable health behavior and higher BMI. Targeting SQB might be a promising strategy for promoting healthy behavior.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Status quo bias (SQB) has often been referred to as an important tool for improving public health. However, very few studies were able to link SQB with health behavior.
METHODS
Analysis were based on data from the population-based KORA S4 study (1999-2001, n = 2309). We operationalized SQB through two questions. The first asked whether participants switched their health insurance for financial benefits since this was enabled in 1996. Those who did were assigned a 'very low SQB' (n = 213). Participants who did not switch were asked a second hypothetical question regarding switching costs. We assigned 'low SQB' to those who indicated low switching costs (n = 1035), 'high SQB' to those who indicated high switching costs (n = 588), and 'very high SQB' to those who indicated infinite switching costs (n = 473). We tested the association between SQB and physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, the sum of health behaviors, and body mass index (BMI) using logistic, Poisson and ordinary least square regression models, respectively. Models were adjusted for age, sex, education, income, satisfaction with current health insurance and morbidity.
RESULTS
SQB was associated with a higher rate of physical inactivity [OR = 1.22, 95% CI (1.11; 1.35)], a higher sum of unhealthy lifestyle factors [IRR = 1.05, 95% CI (1.01; 1.10)] and a higher BMI [β = 0.30, 95% CI (0.08; 0.51)].
CONCLUSION
A high SQB was associated with unfavorable health behavior and higher BMI. Targeting SQB might be a promising strategy for promoting healthy behavior.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30778558
pii: 5333155
doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz017
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
992-997Informations de copyright
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.