Regional differences in health further explained

Abstract Like in most Western countries, regional health inequalities are also present the Netherlands. Explaining these is necessary for policymakers to target interventions reduce them. Regional usually attributed demographic and socio-economic factors, while lifestyle psychosocial factors increasingly shown impact individuals’ health. Therefore, this study analyses role of lifestyle, loneliness, self-mastery explaining inequalities, addition SES, self-rated health, presence chronic diseases, psychological distress. Analyses performed linked dataset from Dutch Public Health Services, Statistics Netherlands, National Institute Environment year 2016 ( n = 334,721). The results show that loneliness contribute diseases. For distress, both inequalities. Addressing can offer additional pathways bridge In study, region Zuid-Limburg represents reference region. Use compare regions healthcare costs (Regiovergelijker gezondheid en zorgkosten [1]) order select all other as