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Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2/2014

01-10-2014 | Original Article

The Mediating Roles of Perceived Stress and Health Behaviors in the Relation Between Objective, Subjective, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Perceived Health

Authors: Theresa E. Senn, Ph.D., Jennifer L. Walsh, Ph.D., Michael P. Carey, Ph.D.

Published in: Annals of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 2/2014

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Abstract

Background

Objective, subjective, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with perceived health, morbidity, and mortality.

Purpose

We investigated whether perceived stress and health behaviors mediated the relation between the three types of SES and perceived health.

Methods

Participants (N = 508) attending a public clinic completed a computerized survey assessing objective SES (income, education, employment); health behaviors; perceived stress; and perceived health. They also indicated their social standing relative to others (subjective SES) and provided their current address to determine neighborhood SES.

Results

In a structural equation model including all three SES types, lower objective and subjective SES were related to poorer perceived health. When mediators were included in the model, there were significant indirect effects of (a) SES on health through stress and (b) SES on health through stress and health-compromising behaviors.

Conclusions

Interventions to reduce the impact of stressors could improve the health of socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals.
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Metadata
Title
The Mediating Roles of Perceived Stress and Health Behaviors in the Relation Between Objective, Subjective, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status and Perceived Health
Authors
Theresa E. Senn, Ph.D.
Jennifer L. Walsh, Ph.D.
Michael P. Carey, Ph.D.
Publication date
01-10-2014
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 0883-6612
Electronic ISSN: 1532-4796
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-014-9591-1

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