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Are stress-related pathways of social status differentiation more important determinants of health inequities in countries with higher levels of income inequality?

Dana Lee OlstadSara NejatinaminiLana VanderleeKatherine M LivingstoneDavid J T CampbellKaren TangLeia M MinakerDavid Hammond
Published in: Sociology of health & illness (2022)
We explored socioeconomic gradients in self-rated overall health (SROH) using indicators of materialist (educational attainment and perceived income adequacy) and psychosocial perspectives (subjective social status (SSS)) among adults living in countries with varying levels of income inequality, and the importance of psychosocial stress in mediating these associations. If psychosocial processes at the individual and societal levels correspond, associations between SSS and SROH should be higher among adults in countries with higher income inequality, and psychosocial stress should be a more important mediator of these associations. We used multigroup structural equation models to analyse cross-sectional data from the International Food Policy Study of adults (n = 22,824) in Australia, Canada, Mexico, the UK and the United States. Associations between SSS and SROH were not higher in more unequal countries, nor was psychosocial stress a more important mediator of these associations. Inequities in SROH in more unequal countries may not predominantly reflect stress-related pathways of social status differentiation.
Keyphrases
  • mental health
  • healthcare
  • cross sectional
  • physical activity
  • public health
  • stress induced
  • electronic health record
  • depressive symptoms
  • social support
  • heat stress
  • machine learning
  • human health
  • data analysis