The Association Between Self-reported Income and Perceived Health Based on the Ontario Longitudinal Study of Aging

Abstract

An analysis of the data from the Ontario longitudinal study of aging was carried out to investigate the associations between self-reported income and perceived health status, using cross-tabulations and logistic regression models. Reported income, educational level, and smoking status were associated with perceived health status. Reported income was associated with perceived health status independently of the effects of education and smoking. The data also indicate that changes in income are related significantly to changes in perceived health status. A reduced income was associated with a worsening of health and a weak relationship was apparent between increased income and better health. The analyses further suggest that income changes precede health changes. The possible mechanisms through which an income change may lead to health changes are discussed.

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

“…Previous research in Canada has used income as the sole measure of socio-economic status (Cairney & Arnold, 1996;Hirdes et al, 1986); in the present study, we use two indicators of socio-economic position, education and income. This decision raises at least two methodological and conceptual problems.…”

“…The proposition that social structure may be consequential for self-rated health among older persons has been partially tested by Canadian researchers. Hirdes et al (1986) and Cairney and Arnold (1996) find that income predicts perceived health net of other demographic variables. They show that individuals from low income groups tend to report poorer self-rated health than those from high income groups.…”

“…Both groups of researchers also find that the income self-rated health relationship cannot be explained by risky lifestyle variables, like smoking and alcohol consumption, even though these have been identified elsewhere as potential mediators (see Blaxter, 1990;Townsend & Davidson, 1982). If these factors do not mediate the relationship between social position and self-rated health, the question remains, as Hirdes et al (1986) ask, what other factors may account for this relationship? In this paper, I draw upon a major paradigm in the sociology of health to aid in answering this question.…”

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

“…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.…”

Poverty Status, Health Behaviours and Health: Implications for Social Assistance and Health Care Policy

“…One such consequence is suggested by the demonstrated relationship between poverty and poor health (Adams 1993;Duffy 1989;Hay 1988;Hirdes et al 1986;Manga 1993;Roberge et al1995;Wilkins 1988;Wilkins et al 1989;Wilkins et al 1991). Moreover, research findings have suggested that individuals who live in families that receive social assistance have lower levels of health than those individuals who live in working poor families (Williamson and Fast 1993).…”