DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12119
Research Housing type, location of residence and health status in Australian baby boomers: Results from the Australian Baby Boomer (ABBA) Study Deborah Ann Black Ageing, Work and Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Leigh Ann Wilson Ageing, Work and Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney; and School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Kate O'Loughlin, Jack Noone, Hal Kendig and Jennifer Butcher Ageing, Work and Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Introduction: Baby Boomers are working and living longer than their pre-war counterparts, and are more likely to live in high density urban housing. This paper examines the relationship between housing type, working status and location of residence on health status in Baby Boomers. Methods: We investigated location of residence and housing type in 1009 participants of the Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA) Study to identify any predictors of, or correlations between, these variables and health status. Results: Current workers were less likely to report depression than retirees. We found a significantly higher rate of diabetes, obesity and hypertension in retirees than in current workers however rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension were higher than predicted in current workers. Conclusion: The rates of chronic disease are higher than previous estimates and provide evidence to inform health promotion programs designed to increase physical activity and improve eating habits in baby boomers. Key words: ageing, baby boomers, health, housing, residence.
Introduction The majority of post World War II baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1965 have led more affluent lifestyles than their pre-war counterparts. This, along with improved health services has led to a generation that is living longer than those who have gone before them [1]. The baby boomer cohort is the first generation whose majority will enter retirement with the expectation of a relatively healthy life [1]. During the next Correspondence to: Dr Leigh Wilson, Ageing, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney. Email: [email protected] Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol 34 No 1 March 2015, 43–46 © 2013 ACOTA
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two decades there will be, on average, 250 000 Australian baby boomers having their 60th birthday each year. As a result, some younger members of the boomer cohort will still be alive in 2057 when one-quarter of Australians will be aged 65 years [2]. In parallel with the ageing of the baby boomer cohort is the exponential increase in urban development and high-density housing. Urbanisation is resulting in smaller and less available blocks of land, and a preference for high-density, lowmaintenance living. As the baby boomers age many may opt to move to smaller, low-maintenance dwellings, but there are significant limitations to high-density living particularly for older people. Location of residence is associated with health status, with residents of lower socioeconomic areas reporting poorer health. Preliminary Australian research highlights the potential association between length of time residing in particular locations and the development of chronic illness [3]. Although there have been significant improvements in medical technology and health services, statistics suggest many of the baby boomer cohort will have high levels of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, overweight and obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol [4,5]. This research draws on data collected from a national telephone survey of Australian baby boomers enrolled in the Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA) project. The survey was approved by the Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee and was carried out between April and June 2009. This paper examines the relationship between housing type and location of residence and health status as well as health status and satisfaction with life as a whole in this group of baby boomers, some of whom were retired and others who were still working.
Methods Recruitment and participants The ABBA study enrolled 1009 participants born between 1944 and 1959 (age group 50–64 years) as these are the baby boomers approaching retirement age or recently retired. Random-digit dialling was used to recruit the sample and the survey was completed by telephone interview. Stratification was carried out by state/territory and only one respondent was selected in an eligible household. Numbers in each geographic stratum were monitored for equal representation in sex and age groups. 43
B l a c k
D A ,
W i l s o n
Measures and data analysis The ABBA survey collected data on a range of factors in people who were both retired and still working. These included retirement status and planning for retirement, financial status related to retirement, health status, carer status location of residence, and housing type. Location of residence was defined as living in either the major city in each state (urban) or elsewhere in the state (rural). Small states and territories (Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Northern Territory) had fewer participants overall and for the purposes of analysis were classified as rural. For the purposes of these analyses, responses from both retired and working participants were combined and compared between groups. An analysis of the data across the 30 most affluent suburbs, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in cities across Australia was also examined for health status of the baby boomer cohort [6].
Results A total of 1009 respondents completed the survey (67% response rate). Characteristics of participants are described in Table 1. Men and women were equally represented in both urban and rural locations across all states and territories. The majority of the participants were Australian born (75%), and lived in a freestanding house (89%). Those who were born overseas were significantly less likely to live in the rural areas of the country (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): –0.86 to –0.26). Very few participants (4/1009) lived in a retirement village, a finding that is not surprising given the age distribution of the cohort.
Table 1: Characteristics of Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia participants Characteristic Age (years) 50–54 55–59 60–64 Refused Total Retirement status Retired Working Location of residence Major urban Rural Place of birth Australia Overseas Dwelling type House Unit or flat Retirement village Other
44
Male (%)
Female (%)
Total (%)
145 (14) 193 (19) 164 (16) 0 502 (50)
151 (15) 180 (18) 175 (17) 1 507 (50)
296 (30) 373 (37) 339 (33) 1 (
Research Housing type, location of residence and health status in Australian baby boomers: Results from the Australian Baby Boomer (ABBA) Study Deborah Ann Black Ageing, Work and Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Leigh Ann Wilson Ageing, Work and Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney; and School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Kate O'Loughlin, Jack Noone, Hal Kendig and Jennifer Butcher Ageing, Work and Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Introduction: Baby Boomers are working and living longer than their pre-war counterparts, and are more likely to live in high density urban housing. This paper examines the relationship between housing type, working status and location of residence on health status in Baby Boomers. Methods: We investigated location of residence and housing type in 1009 participants of the Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA) Study to identify any predictors of, or correlations between, these variables and health status. Results: Current workers were less likely to report depression than retirees. We found a significantly higher rate of diabetes, obesity and hypertension in retirees than in current workers however rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension were higher than predicted in current workers. Conclusion: The rates of chronic disease are higher than previous estimates and provide evidence to inform health promotion programs designed to increase physical activity and improve eating habits in baby boomers. Key words: ageing, baby boomers, health, housing, residence.
Introduction The majority of post World War II baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1965 have led more affluent lifestyles than their pre-war counterparts. This, along with improved health services has led to a generation that is living longer than those who have gone before them [1]. The baby boomer cohort is the first generation whose majority will enter retirement with the expectation of a relatively healthy life [1]. During the next Correspondence to: Dr Leigh Wilson, Ageing, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney. Email: [email protected] Australasian Journal on Ageing, Vol 34 No 1 March 2015, 43–46 © 2013 ACOTA
bs_bs_banner
two decades there will be, on average, 250 000 Australian baby boomers having their 60th birthday each year. As a result, some younger members of the boomer cohort will still be alive in 2057 when one-quarter of Australians will be aged 65 years [2]. In parallel with the ageing of the baby boomer cohort is the exponential increase in urban development and high-density housing. Urbanisation is resulting in smaller and less available blocks of land, and a preference for high-density, lowmaintenance living. As the baby boomers age many may opt to move to smaller, low-maintenance dwellings, but there are significant limitations to high-density living particularly for older people. Location of residence is associated with health status, with residents of lower socioeconomic areas reporting poorer health. Preliminary Australian research highlights the potential association between length of time residing in particular locations and the development of chronic illness [3]. Although there have been significant improvements in medical technology and health services, statistics suggest many of the baby boomer cohort will have high levels of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, overweight and obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol [4,5]. This research draws on data collected from a national telephone survey of Australian baby boomers enrolled in the Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA) project. The survey was approved by the Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee and was carried out between April and June 2009. This paper examines the relationship between housing type and location of residence and health status as well as health status and satisfaction with life as a whole in this group of baby boomers, some of whom were retired and others who were still working.
Methods Recruitment and participants The ABBA study enrolled 1009 participants born between 1944 and 1959 (age group 50–64 years) as these are the baby boomers approaching retirement age or recently retired. Random-digit dialling was used to recruit the sample and the survey was completed by telephone interview. Stratification was carried out by state/territory and only one respondent was selected in an eligible household. Numbers in each geographic stratum were monitored for equal representation in sex and age groups. 43
B l a c k
D A ,
W i l s o n
Measures and data analysis The ABBA survey collected data on a range of factors in people who were both retired and still working. These included retirement status and planning for retirement, financial status related to retirement, health status, carer status location of residence, and housing type. Location of residence was defined as living in either the major city in each state (urban) or elsewhere in the state (rural). Small states and territories (Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania and Northern Territory) had fewer participants overall and for the purposes of analysis were classified as rural. For the purposes of these analyses, responses from both retired and working participants were combined and compared between groups. An analysis of the data across the 30 most affluent suburbs, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in cities across Australia was also examined for health status of the baby boomer cohort [6].
Results A total of 1009 respondents completed the survey (67% response rate). Characteristics of participants are described in Table 1. Men and women were equally represented in both urban and rural locations across all states and territories. The majority of the participants were Australian born (75%), and lived in a freestanding house (89%). Those who were born overseas were significantly less likely to live in the rural areas of the country (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval (CI): –0.86 to –0.26). Very few participants (4/1009) lived in a retirement village, a finding that is not surprising given the age distribution of the cohort.
Table 1: Characteristics of Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia participants Characteristic Age (years) 50–54 55–59 60–64 Refused Total Retirement status Retired Working Location of residence Major urban Rural Place of birth Australia Overseas Dwelling type House Unit or flat Retirement village Other
44
Male (%)
Female (%)
Total (%)
145 (14) 193 (19) 164 (16) 0 502 (50)
151 (15) 180 (18) 175 (17) 1 507 (50)
296 (30) 373 (37) 339 (33) 1 (
