Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 943-954; doi:10.3390/ijerph9030943 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Article Determinants of Self-Rated Health in a Representative Sample of a Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study in Greece Christina Darviri 1, Georgia Fouka 2, Charalambos Gnardellis 3, Artemios K. Artemiadis 1, Xanthi Tigani 1,* and Evangelos C. Alexopoulos 1 1 Postgraduate Course Stress Management and Health Promotion, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Soranou Ephessiou Street, 4, 11527 Athens, Greece; E-Mails: cdarviri@med.uoa.gr (C.D.); artemiad@med.uoa.gr (A.K.A.); ecalexop@med.uoa.gr (E.C.A.) 2 Technological Education Institute of Athens, Ag Spyridonos Street, Egaleo, 12210 Athens, Greece; E-Mail: gfouka@teiath.gr 3 Technological Educational Institute of Messolonghi, 30200 Messolonghi, Greece; E-Mail: bgna@teimes.gr * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: xtigani@med.uoa.gr; Tel.: +30-210-6597644; Fax: +30-210-6597644. Received: 20 January 2012; in revised form: 12 March 2012 / Accepted: 12 March 2012 / Published: 16 March 2012 Abstract: Self-rated health (SRH) is a health measure related to future health, mortality, healthcare services utilization and quality of life. Various sociodemographic, health and lifestyle determinants of SRH have been identified in different populations. The aim of this study is to extend SRH literature in the Greek population. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in rural communities between 2001 and 2003. Interviews eliciting basic demographic, health-related and lifestyle information (smoking, physical activity, diet, quality of sleep and religiosity) were conducted. The sample consisted of 1,519 participants, representative of the rural population of Tripoli. Multinomial regression analysis was conducted to identify putative SRH determinants. Among the 1,519 participants, 489 (32.2%), 790 (52%) and 237 (15.6%) rated their health as “very good”, “good” and “poor” respectively. Female gender, older age, lower level of education and impaired health were all associated with worse SRH, accounting for 16.6% of SRH variance. Regular exercise, healthier diet, better sleep quality and better adherence to religious habits were related with better health ratings, after adjusting for