A decade beyond the economic recession: A study of health‐related lifestyles in urban and rural Spain (2006–2017)

Abstract

The 2008 economic recession may have affected health-related indicators differentlydepending on the living environment. We analyze health-related indicators in Spainusing data from four Spanish health surveys (2006, 2011, 2014, and 2017, 95 924individuals aged ≥16 years). In 2006–2011, physical activity decreased among menand women, while in 2006–2017, physical activity only decreased among urbanwomen. Daily vegetable intake, except in rural women, increased in 2006–2011 butdecreased in 2006–2017 in all groups. Smoking decreased among urban women in2006–2011 and 2006–2014 but only decreased among men, and even increasedamong rural women, in 2006–2017. In 2006–2017, obesity increased among menand urban women, good self-rated health status increased in all groups and flu vaccina-tion declined. Blood pressure and cholesterol control decreased in urban women in2006–2011 but increased in 2006–2017 in all groups, as well as mammographic andcytological control. Our findings highlight the differential impact of the economic reces-sion on health-related lifestyles according to sex and place of residence, underscoringthe need for targeted health policies to address evolving health disparities over time.