Toward understanding the association of socioeconomic status and health: a new challenge for the biopsychosocial approach

Psychosom Med. 1995 May-Jun;57(3):213-25. doi: 10.1097/00006842-199505000-00003.

Abstract

The association of socioeconomic status (SES) with morbidity and mortality is a ubiquitous finding in the health literature. One of the principal challenges for biobehavioral researchers is understanding the mechanisms that link SES with health outcomes. This article highlights possible pathways by which SES may influence health. It also provides a discussion of sociodemographic and geographical modifiers of the SES-health relationship and offers several potentially fruitful directions for future research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Susceptibility / prevention & control
  • Disease Susceptibility / psychology*
  • Female
  • Gender Identity
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / mortality
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / prevention & control
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / psychology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Environment*
  • Socioeconomic Factors*
  • Survival Rate