A multilevel modelling approach to examining the effects of area of residence on health and functioning

A multilevel modelling approach is used to ascertain the effect of area of residence, as measured by the random variance component at the area level, on a number of measures of health and functioning obtained on three cohorts of individuals (aged 15, 35 and 55 years) living in the central Clydeside conurbation in 1987. Gender, social class and material deprivation are each controlled for at the individual level. The variance component is allowed to vary at both the individual and the area level simultaneously according to age and gender groups in combination. Having controlled for individual characteristics, there was an association between area of residence and waist-hip ratio and reaction time, but not self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness, height or standardized respiratory function. Waist-hip ratio, reaction time, self-rated health and height were also associated with the Carstairs-Morris deprivation index at the postcode sector level.