The lack of social gradient of health behaviours and psychosocial factors in Northern Italy

To examine i nequalities in health behaviors and psychosocial factors in Northern Italy. Methods: The study was based on a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) of 4 002 non-institutionalized adults livin g in the Veneto region of Italy. Results: Cigarette smoking, binge drinking, fruit and vegetables consumption and stress failed to show a social gradient. Only physical activity was significantly associated with social class. Stress was a significant predictor of physical inactivity, smoking and low fruit and vegetable i ntake. Lack of emotional support was associated with smoking and physical inactivity among males, and low fruit and vegetable intake for both genders. Conclusions: Three proposed explanations may account for the lack of consistent social gradient of health behaviors in Northern Italy: a) socio-economic context; b) uncompleted epidemiological transition of behavioral risk factors across social classes; c) lack of systematic health promotion efforts. Future research is needed to examine the plausibility of such explanations.