Social Class and Psychopathology in Adoptees

Is there evidence that social class at birth increases risk of psychosis? A systematic review

“…The authors found that there was no significant difference between social classes of psychotic individuals and the general population. Wender et al (1973) used an interesting study design to investigate the relationship between social class and risk of psychosis. The authors studied a sample of adopted individuals (n = 5,483) using a case-control design.…”

“…Three studies showed that an increased paternal SES is associated with schizophrenia (Mäkikyrö et al, 1997; Mulvany et al, 2001; Timms, 1998). Finally, three retrospective studies showed that paternal SES of people with schizophrenia is similar to the general population (Goldberg and Morrison, 1963; Hare et al, 1972; Wender et al, 1973). Interestingly, results from the included studies appeared to follow a temporal pattern, as all of the studies conducted since 2001 supported an association between low paternal SES and psychosis (Byrne et al, 2004; Corcoran et al, 2009; Goldberg et al, 2011; Harrison et al, 2001; Werner et al, 2007; Wicks et al, 2005).…”

“…Two other studies showed similar results. First, Wender et al (1973) in an adoption study showed that there is a significant positive correlation ( p < .05) between high adoptive paternal SES and risk for psychotic illness in offspring. Second, the OR was 0.49 (95% CI = 0.40–0.85, p < .0029) for people in low social classes compared to high social class in a small case-control study ( n = 352; Mulvany et al, 2001), suggesting a slightly elevated risk for individuals in high social class.…”

“…Four of the most recent studies supporting an association with low paternal SES at birth (Corcoran et al, 2009; Goldberg et al, 2011; Werner et al, 2007; Wicks et al, 2005) used a prospective longitudinal design with large sample populations (71,165–2,100,000) to reach the same conclusion, and thus possessed high validity. The three studies which showed no association were all undertaken between 1963 and 1973 (Goldberg et al, 1963; Hare et al, 1972; Wender et al, 1973). These studies were retrospective and used comparatively low sample populations (369–5,483), suggesting a low validity and weak statistical power.…”

Exploration of the Relationship Between Household Food Insecurity and Diabetes in Canada

“…A “social causation” perspective suggests that HFI increases the risk of early diagnosis with diabetes (22). Conversely, the “health selection” hypothesis proposes that a decline in health status precedes and is presumably the cause of downward social mobility and a decrease in income (23). Diabetes is a progressive disease whereby longer duration of the disease predisposes an individual to a greater risk of deterioration and development of complications and may increase the likelihood of finding oneself in a food-insecure household.…”