Health-risk behaviours in objective and subjective health among Croatians aged 50 and older

Recent data indicate that self-rated health among Croatians is substantially lower, and the gender gap more pronounced, than the EU28. Thus, our study aims to test the sex-specific associations of various health-risk characteristics with subjective and objective health in the Croatian population aged 50 and older (2,436 individuals, cross-sectional SHARE Wave 6 dataset). The logistic regression analyses were performed on health-risk behaviours (nutrition, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption), together with the selected socioeconomic variables and the quality of life scale (CASP-12). The study revealed the importance of vigorous physical activity and the CASP score as being consistently relevant for objective and subjective health in both sexes. Univariate associations of the majority of health- -risk behaviours and health have disappeared from the multivariate model; we have thus concluded that they are often a proximate reflection of underlying economic and psychosocial factors. Furthermore, our findings support the necessity of country-specific health-risk research since the relevance of particular health risks can be considered culturally specific.