Volume 55 - Article 29 | Pages 969–986  

Estimating post-war socioeconomic inequalities in lifespan in Austria (Vorarlberg) between 1946 and 1981 using newspaper obituary data

By Susanne Mayer, Michael Berger, Pekka T Martikainen, Peter Christen, Tanja Corkovic-Mayrhofer, Michael Haider, Moritz Oberndorfer

Abstract

Background: A historical perspective on socioeconomic inequalities in lifespan provides insights into their persistence and potential for reduction. However, relevant administrative data prior to the 1970s are often unavailable, necessitating the use of alternative sources.

Objective: We aim to study the historical development of lifespan inequalities in the post-war period in Vorarlberg, Austria, using data collected from newspaper obituaries.

Methods: We extracted data from all obituaries published in a monopolist newspaper, at 5-year intervals (1946–1981, n = 10,254). Lifespan was the outcome, and we used four indicators of socioeconomic position: obituary size (a financial proxy), tertiary education, blue/white-collar occupation, and honorary service. We estimated inequalities in lifespan using linear and quantile regressions.

Results: The mean lifespan was 60 years in 1946 and 71 years in 1981. In 1946, individuals with medium-sized obituaries lived 5.90 years longer than those with small obituaries (95% CI: 1.33–10.48). Obituary coverage was below 40% before the 1960s but had risen to 45% by 1961, when medium and large obituaries were associated with longer lifespans of 4.34 years (95% CI: 1.27–7.42) and 8.51 years (95% CI: 0.23–16.80) respectively. By 1981 (coverage: 84%), differences had narrowed to +2.50 years for medium-sized obituaries (95% CI: 0.83–4.17).

Contribution: Using obituary data – an underexplored, yet rich data source for studying population health – we found that lifespan inequalities narrowed in the immediate post-war period, mainly driven by increasing lifespan in disadvantaged groups. Comparisons with available registry data illustrate that obituary data effectively capture mortality patterns and may help improve the understanding of the evolution of health inequalities when administrative data are limited.

Author’s Affiliation

• Susanne Mayer - Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria EMAIL
• Michael Berger - Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria EMAIL
• Pekka T Martikainen - Helsingin Yliopisto (University of Helsinki), Finland EMAIL
• Peter Christen - Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria EMAIL
• Tanja Corkovic-Mayrhofer - Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria EMAIL
• Michael Haider - Medizinische Universität Wien, Austria EMAIL
• Moritz Oberndorfer - Helsingin Yliopisto (University of Helsinki), Finland EMAIL

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