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Biomedical subjects

Margot Shields

Publications and source records attributed to Margot Shields.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Healthy living among seniors.

OBJECTIVES: This article investigates good health among Canadian seniors in relation to health behaviours and psychosocial factors. DATA SOURCES: Data are from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey and the 1994/95 through 2002/03 National Population Health Survey, household components. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to study associations between being in good health and behavioural risk and psychosocial factors in 2003. Proportional hazards modelling and logistic regression were used to examine health-related characteristics and psychosocial factors in relation to maintaining and recovering health. MAIN RESULTS: Seniors who exercised frequently, had a body mass index in the normal range, were high consumers of fruit and vegetables and moderate consumers of alcohol were more likely to be in good health. Low levels of stress and feeling connected to the community were also associated with good health. Healthy behaviours were related to maintaining good health over time, as well as increased likelihood of recovery. These findings persisted when controlling for socio-demographic factors and chronic conditions.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2006

Overweight and obesity among children and youth.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Canadian children and youth aged 2 to 17, based on direct measurements of their height and weight. Data from 1978/79 and 2004 are compared, and trends by sex and age groups are presented. DATA SOURCES: Data based on direct measurements are from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS): Nutrition. Other information is from the 1978/79 Canada Health Survey and the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted in the US. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: The estimated prevalence of overweight and of obesity, including an overall rate reflecting both, was based on 2004 CCHS data for 8,661 children and youth whose height and weight were measured. MAIN RESULTS: In 2004, 26% of Canadian children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 were overweight or obese, and 8% were obese. Over the past 25 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined has more than doubled among youth aged 12 to 17, while the prevalence of obesity alone has tripled. Children and youth who ate fruit and vegetables at least five times a day were substantially less likely to be overweight or obese than were those who ate these foods less often. The likelihood of being overweight/obese rose as "screen time" (watching TV, playing video games or using a computer) increased.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Stress and depression in the employed population.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes stress levels among the employed population aged 18 to 75 and examines associations between stress and depression. DATA SOURCES: Data are from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-being and the longitudinal component of the 1994/95 through 2002/03 National Population Health Survey. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Stress levels were calculated by sex, age and employment characteristics. Multivariate analyses were used to examine associations between stress and depression in 2002, and between stress and incident depression over a two-year period, while controlling for age, employment characteristics, and factors originating outside the workplace. MAIN RESULTS: In 2002, women reported higher levels of job strain and general day-to-day stress. When the various sources of stress were considered simultaneously, along with other possible confounders, for both sexes, high levels of general day-to-day stress and low levels of co-worker support were associated with higher odds of depression, as was high job strain for men. Over a two-year period, men with high strain jobs and women with high personal stress and low co-worker support had elevated odds of incident depression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The journey to quitting smoking.

OBJECTIVES: This article outlines smoking trends over the past 10 years among the population aged 18 or older. Factors associated with smoking cessation and relapse are examined, as well as factors associated with having no intention of quitting in the next 6 months. DATA SOURCES: Data are from the household cross-sectional and longitudinal components of Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey (1994/95 to 2002/03) (NPHS) and from the 2000/01 and 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Trends in smoking rates were calculated using cross-sectional data from the NPHS and the CCHS. Factors associated with cessation and relapsing were examined using pooling of repeated observations over two-year periods and logistic regression based on NPHS longitudinal data from 1994/95 to 2002/03. Factors associated with having no plans to quit were examined with logistic regression, based on 2003 CCHS cross-sectional data. MAIN RESULTS: In 2003, 19% of the Canadian population aged 18 or older smoked cigarettes daily, down 7 percentage points from a decade earlier. Smoking cessation, relapsing and having no plans to quit were all associated with addiction levels, notably, cigarettes smoked per day. Smoke-free homes and workplace smoking bans were associated with reduced cigarette consumption.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Youth smoking.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Stress, health and the benefit of social support.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes stress exposure among Canadians aged 18 or older and analyzes short- and long-term associations with psychological distress and chronic conditions. The buffering role of emotional support is also explored. DATA SOURCES: Data are from the household cross-sectional (1994/95) and longitudinal (1994/95 to 2000/01) components of Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey. Supplemental data are from the 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Exposure rates to stress were calculated by sex, age group and socio-economic characteristics. Multivariate analyses were used to examine associations between stress and mental and physical health in 1994/95, and between stress and changes in health by 2000/01, controlling for other possible confounders. MAIN RESULTS: Women reported more stress than did men. For both sexes, stress levels were higher among the less educated, less affluent, and previously married. The level of psychological distress in 1994/95 and the prevalence of chronic conditions were related to stress, as were increases in distress over the next six years and the likelihood of having been diagnosed with chronic conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Proxy reporting of health information.

OBJECTIVES: This article documents the extent of proxy reporting in Statistics Canada's National Population Health Survey (NPHS) and explores associations between reporting status and the prevalence and incidence of selected health problems. DATA SOURCES: Data are from the household cross-sectional (1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99) and longitudinal (1994/95 to 2000/01) components of the NPHS. Supplemental data are from the 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Estimates of health conditions from the two cross-sectional files that are produced for each NPHS cycle were compared. The file with the lower proxy reporting rate was expected to yield higher prevalence rates. Multivariate analyses of the longitudinal data were used to examine associations between changes in reporting status and the incidence of the selected conditions. MAIN RESULTS: Compared with the 1998/89 General file, in which proxy reporting was more common, the 1998/99 Health file yields higher estimates of certain health conditions. Declines in proxy reporting rates over time are generally associated with greater increases in estimates. Analyses based on the longitudinal file suggest that the incidence of some conditions may also be subject to a proxy effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Social anxiety disorder--beyond shyness.

OBJECTIVES: This article presents prevalence estimates of social anxiety disorder (social phobia) among the Canadian household population aged 15 or older. The relationship between this mental disorder and others is examined. Selected aspects of functional impairment are compared for people with current, past, and no history of the condition. DATA SOURCE: Data are from the 2002 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-being. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Cross-tabulations were used to estimate the prevalence of social anxiety disorder, to determine socio-economic factors associated with prevalence, and to examine relationships with other mental disorders. Associations between social anxiety disorder and selected impairment variables were examined using multivariate analysis that controlled for socio-economic factors and other aspects of mental and physical health. MAIN RESULTS: In 2002, 750,000 Canadians aged 15 or older (3%) had social anxiety disorder. These people had a higher risk of having major depressive disorder, panic disorder and substance dependency than the general population. Social anxiety disorder was associated with higher rates of disability, negative perceptions of physical and mental health, and dissatisfaction with life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Shift work and health.

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the characteristics of shift workers and compares stress factors and health behaviours of shift and regular daytime workers. Based on an analysis of people followed over four years, associations between the incidence of chronic conditions and changes in psychological distress levels are explored in relation to working shift. DATA SOURCES: Data are from the 2000/01 Canadian Community Health Survey, the longitudinal (1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99) and cross-sectional (1994/95) components of the National Population Health Survey, and the Survey of Work Arrangements (1991 and 1995). ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES: Cross-tabulations were used to profile shift workers and to compare some of their health behaviours and sources of stress with those of regular daytime workers. Multivariate analyses were used to examine associations between shift work and the incidence of chronic conditions and changes in psychological distress levels over four years, controlling for other potential confounders. MAIN RESULTS: Men who worked an evening, rotating or irregular shift had increased odds of reporting having been diagnosed with a chronic condition over a four-year period. For both sexes, an evening shift was associated with increases in psychological distress levels over two years.

Adolescent↗