Socio-economic Status and Self-Rated Health Among Older Canadians

Abstract

Although previous research has examined the various correlates of self-rated health, little attention has been paid to how position in the social structure influences this important measure of health. Drawing upon the social structure and personality perspective, I examine whether the relationship between socio-economic status (income adequacy and education) and self-rated health is mediated by financial stress, self-esteem, mastery, social support, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity, using data from the 1994 National Population Health Survey. Results show that almost one-third of the relationship can be explained by the mediating effect of these variables. Income adequacy and education, however, remain significantly related to self-rated health net of these variables. Further research with a broader array of variables related to social position is required to specify the mechanisms connecting socio-economic status and perceived health.

An analysis of depressive symptoms in stroke survivors: verification of a moderating effect of demographic characteristics

“…Subjective income status is an integral aspect of one’s economic well-being because it can improve one’s assessment of one’s capacity to meet financial needs, including maintaining independent community-based living [44]. Perceived income adequacy has been reported in the literature in various ways and has been verified as a predictor of other outcome measures such as self-rated health [45], life satisfaction [46], and depressive symptoms [47]. …”

A Life Course Perspective on the Relationship between Socio-economic Status and Health: Testing the Divergence Hypothesis

“…The implication of this is that there is potential for further compressing morbidity and disability among entire cohorts, and not just the wealthiest within cohorts. Research shows that the relationship between SES and health is weakened when controls for material, lifestyle, and psychosocial resources are introduced (e.g., Cairney, 2000;Lantz, et al, 2001;McDonough et al, 2002), revealing that SES per se is not likely at the core of successful aging. Instead, these resources act as a conduit through which SES influences health (Denton & Walters, 1999).…”

“…Despite universal access to essential health care in Canada, research shows that socio-economic status (SES) is closely linked to health status among both younger and older adults (e.g., Cairney, 2000;Cairney & Arnold, 1996;Cairney & Arnold, 1998;Hay, 1988;Hirdes & Forbes, 1989;Hirdes et al, 1986;Mustard et al, 1997;Wilkins et al, 1991;Wolfson et al, 1993). Canadians with higher SES, especially well-educated and higher-income persons, have lower rates of morbidity and mortality than those with lower status.…”

Contributions of Psychological Well-Being and Social Support to an Integrative Model of Subjective Health in Later Adulthood

“…Yet it has been reported that positive indicators of psychological well-being such as life satisfaction (Lee and Shinkai 2003), perception of control (Chipperfield et al 2004), and self-esteem (Cairney 2000;Starr et al 2003), are also associated with subjective health. In fact, emerging evidence suggests that positive psychological functioning may represent an important long-term predictor of subjective health (Benyamini et al 2000).…”