A brief conceptual tutorial on multilevel analysis in social epidemiology: investigating contextual phenomena in different groups of people

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dc.contributor.authorMerlo, J.
dc.contributor.authorYang, M.
dc.contributor.authorChaix, B.
dc.contributor.authorLynch, J.
dc.contributor.authorRastam, L.
dc.date.issued2005
dc.description.abstractStudy objective: (1) To provide a didactic and conceptual (rather than mathematical) link between multilevel regression analysis (MLRA) and social epidemiological concepts. (2) To develop an epidemiological vision of MLRA focused on measures of health variation and clustering of individual health status within areas, which is useful to operationalise the notion of “contextual phenomenon”. The paper shows how to investigate (1) whether there is clustering within neighbourhoods, (2) to which extent neighbourhood level differences are explained by the individual composition of the neighbourhoods, (3) whether the contextual phenomenon differs in magnitude for different groups of people, and whether neighbourhood context modifies individual level associations, and (4) whether variations in health status are dependent on individual level characteristics. Design and participants: Simulated data are used on systolic blood pressure (SBP), age, body mass index (BMI), and antihypertensive medication (AHM) ascribed to 25 000 subjects in 39 neighbourhoods of an imaginary city. Rather than assessing neighbourhood variables, the paper concentrated on SBP variance between individuals and neighbourhoods as a function of individual BMI. Results: The variance partition coefficient (VPC) showed that clustering of SBP within neighbourhoods was greater for people with a higher BMI. The composition of the neighbourhoods with respect to age, AHM use, and BMI explained about one fourth of the neighbourhood differences in SBP. Neighbourhood context modified the individual level association between BMI and SBP. Individual level differences in SBP within neighbourhoods were larger for people with a higher BMI. Conclusions: Statistical measures of multilevel variations can effectively quantify contextual effects in different groups of people, which is a relevant issue for understanding health inequalities.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityJuan Merlo, Min Yang, Basile Chaix, John Lynch, Lennart Råstam
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2005; 59(9):729-736
dc.identifier.doi10.1136/jech.2004.023929
dc.identifier.issn0143-005X
dc.identifier.issn1470-2738
dc.identifier.orcidLynch, J. [0000-0003-2781-7902]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/65544
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBritish Med Journal Publ Group
dc.rightsCopyright status unknown
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2004.023929
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectAntihypertensive Agents
dc.subjectBody Mass Index
dc.subjectEpidemiologic Methods
dc.subjectAnalysis of Variance
dc.subjectCluster Analysis
dc.subjectModels, Statistical
dc.subjectRegression Analysis
dc.subjectHealth Status
dc.subjectResidence Characteristics
dc.subjectBlood Pressure
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.titleA brief conceptual tutorial on multilevel analysis in social epidemiology: investigating contextual phenomena in different groups of people
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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