Mind over Matter. The Impact of Subjective Social Status on Health Outcomes and Health Behaviors

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2018 Sep 6

PMID 30183731

Citations 9

Authors

Lorenzo DHooge

Peter Achterberg

Tim Reeskens

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recent insights have shown subjective status to impact health and health behavior. It is however unclear how this exactly happens. In this study we explore two mechanisms: this of a direct, mediating effect of subjective status explaining the impact of material class on health outcomes and behavior and an indirect, moderating impact on the relationship between material class and health outcomes and behavior. To test this empirically we conduct two studies, focusing on Great-Britain, using survey-data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (N: 2709-3448) and the Whitehall II-study (N: 6275-6467). Our linear and logistic regression analyses show subjective status has a mainly direct impact on health outcomes and has both a direct, mediating and indirect, moderating impact on health behavior. In the conclusion of our article we reflect on the theoretical reasons why subjective status has a direct impact in certain cases, while playing an indirect role in other cases.

Citing Articles

Subjective social status and trajectories of frailty: findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Maharani A, Richards L, Prag P BMJ Public Health. 2025; 2(1):e000629.

PMID: 40018158 PMC: 11812829. DOI: 10.1136/bmjph-2023-000629.

Understanding the mechanisms underlying the socioeconomic disparities in cancer screening among Australian women.

Myers L, Perry N, Anderson L, Ireland M, Nightingale C, Goodwin B BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):3437.

PMID: 39695486 PMC: 11653939. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20901-2.

Lower subjective status is associated with reduced satiation and satiety among children and adolescents: A laboratory study.

Cheon B, Brown A, Bittner J, Saha A, Smith M, Bloomer B Appetite. 2024; 206:107811.

PMID: 39643085 PMC: 11769737. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107811.

Contributions of subjective status to eating behaviors, obesity, and metabolic health across development.

Cheon B, Bittner J, Pink A Appetite. 2024; 204:107735.

PMID: 39481682 PMC: 11609012. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107735.

Subjective social status and functional and mobility impairments among older adults: life satisfaction and depression as mediators and moderators.

Pai M, Muhammad T BMC Geriatr. 2023; 23(1):685.

PMID: 37872470 PMC: 10591391. DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04380-5.

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