2.0 Non-medical determinants of health

2.1 Health behaviours

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who reported their smoking status.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

2.1.4 Quitting smoking

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who smoked in one survey cycle but had quit by a subsequent survey cycle. Smokers are those who smoke on either a daily or an occasional basis.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95 and 1996/97, longitudinal sample, health file

2.1.5 Frequency of heavy drinking

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who are current drinkers and who reported the frequency of drinking 5 or more drinks on one occasion in the past 12 months.

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

2.1.6 Leisure-time physical activity

Definition: Population aged 12 and over reporting level of physical activity, based on their responses to questions about the frequency, duration and intensity of their participation in leisure-time physical activity.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

2.1.7 Breastfeeding practices

Definition: Recently-born children of mothers aged 15 to 49 who breastfed, and the duration of breastfeeding. Recently-born means born within the three years previous to being surveyed.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99

2.2 Living and working conditions

2.2.1 High school graduation

Definition: Proportion of the population aged 25 to 29 who have a high school graduation certificate.

A measure of educational attainment and socio-economic status.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.2 Post-secondary graduation

Definition: Proportion of the population aged 25 to 54 who have obtained a post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree.

A measure of educational attainment and socio-economic status.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.3 Unemployment rate

Definition: Proportion of the labour force aged 15 and over who did not have a job during the reference period.

A traditional measure of the economy. Unemployed people tend to experience more health problems.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey (special tabulations)

2.2.4 Long-term unemployment rate

Definition: Proportion of the labour force aged 15 and over who did not have a job any time during the current or previous year.

Unemployed people tend to experience more health problems. Long-term unemployment could extend ones' susceptibility to poor health.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.5 Youth unemployment rate

Definition: Proportion of the labour force aged 15 to 24 who did not have a job during the reference period.

Measures success in the transition from school to work.

Source: Statistics Canada, Labour Force Survey (special tabulations)

2.2.6 Low income rate (1995 income)

Definition: Proportion of persons in economic families and unattached individuals with incomes below the Statistics Canada low-income cut-off (LICO). The cut-offs represent levels of income where people spend disproportionate amounts of money for food, shelter, and clothing. LICOs are based on family size and degree of urbanization; cut-offs are updated to account for changes in the consumer price index. Data were not derived for economic families or unattached individuals in the Territories or on Indian Reserves

A widely used measure of socio-economic status. Higher income is associated with better health.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.7 Children in low-income families (1995 income)

Definition: Proportion of children under age 18 living in economic families with incomes below Statistics Canada's low-income cut-offs (LICO). Data were not derived for economic families or unattached individuals in the Territories or on Indian Reserves.

A widely used measure of children at risk.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.8 Average personal income (1995 income)

Definition: Average personal income for persons aged 15 and over, from all sources.

Higher income is associated with better health.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.9 Housing affordability (1995 income)

Definition: Proportion of households (renters, owners, and total) spending 30% or more of total household income on shelter.

As a general rule, households are considered to have affordability problems if more than 30% of household income is spent on housing costs. At that level of spending, it is likely that inadequate funds will be available for other necessities such as food, clothing, and transportation. Housing affordability problems affect renters more than owners. Band housing on Indian reserves was not included in the calculation of housing affordability.

Source: Statistics Canada, 1996 Census

2.2.10 Decision latitude at work

Definition: Degree of control of workers over their work circumstances (who agree or disagree with the statement "I have a lot to say about what happens in my job." and "My job allows me the freedom to decide how I do my job.").

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, cross sectional sample, health file

2.3 Personal resources

2.3.2 Social support

Definition: Level of perceived social support reported by population aged 12 and over, based on their responses to four questions about having someone to confide in, someone they can count on in a crisis, someone they can count on for advice, and someone who makes them feel loved and cared for.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95 and 1996/97, cross sectional sample, health file

2.3.3 Life stress

Definition: Level of chronic stress reported by the population aged 18 and over, based on their responses to a series of 17 questions about their personal situation.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95 cross sectional sample, health file