Differences in mortality; A latent factor analysis of the role of health, behaviour and education

Specialeforsvar ved Anne Marie Krogsgaard Andersen

Titel: Differences in mortality ; A latent factor analysis of the role of health, behaviour and education

Abstract: In this thesis, I study the effects of health, behaviour and education onfour-year mortality for people in mid-to-late life. I take a latent factor model approach and constructive measures of different aspects of health. The latent factors are based on responses to the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. I specify a system of probit models to study the effects of the latent factors and covariates on the probability of dying within four years after answering the survey. I use a Bayesian approach to model inference and simulate parameters and latent factors using the Gibbs sampler. I make inference on the model based on the posterior distributions of the model parameters. I find four-year mortality to be highly associated with health behaviour. Furthermore, I find an association between the latent factors `physical functioning' and `life satisfaction' and four-year mortality. The study showed no effect of further education. However, further education may indirectly be associated with mortality since respondents with further education on average are less likely to smoke and more likely to exercise.

Vejledere: Rèmi Piatek, Mette Görtz, Ø.I.
Censor:     Birger Stjernholm Madsen