Helseatferd og levevaner knyttet til sosioøkonomisk status : en studie av to ulike yrkesgruppers helseatferd og levevaner knyttet til kosthold og fysisk aktivitet

Masteroppgave folkehelsevitenskap- Universitetet i Agder; 2014In Norway socioeconomic status and health are strongly related. This is in Norway known as “The challenge of the Gradient” and indicates that people ranked higher related to occupation, education and income, is less likely to be exposed to mortality, disease, self-reported health problems and consequences of disease. This paper reveals and creates an understanding of health related behavior and habits associated with physical activity and diet among two professions with different educational background. Results are compared and comparative interpreted. This research is based on a qualitatively descriptive and inductive research design. The study recruited ten males of Norwegian ethnicity in the ages between twenty and forty, were five worked as teachers and five as taxi drivers. Neither of the drivers had a higher level of education, while the teachers had a minimum of one year college or university degree. The interview guide is theoretically grounded relative to Banduras Social Cognitive Theory and also theories related to social capital. Data is analyzed through thematic text condensation. Results indicate differences affiliated to health related behavior and habits associated with physical activity and diet. The teacher’s diet and physical activity appear to be more structured, while the drivers consumes more fast food and is less structured in their diet. This is illustrated by personal, structural and social conditions. Analysis indicates that work-environment, class affiliation, behavioral capability, observational learning, self-control of performance, reinforcement, outcome expectations and self-efficacy highlights the relationship. This is supported by empirical and theoretical findings. Findings suggest that “The challenge of the Gradient” is a complex phenomenon, which should be examined holistic. (Norway, physical activity, diet, taxi-drivers, teachers, structur