TY - JOUR
T1 - Explaining socioeconomic inequalities in self-reported health outcomes
T2 - The mediating role of perceived life stress, financial self-reliance, psychological capital, and time perspective orientations
AU - Schelleman-Offermans, Karen
AU - Massar, Karlijn
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding:Thisstudywasfundedbythe NetherlandsOrganisationforHealthResearchand Development(https://www.zonmw.nl/en/),grant number531001410,awardedtoKM.TheLISS paneldatawerecollectedbyCentERdata(Tilburg University,TheNetherlands)throughitsMESS (MeasurementandExperimentationintheSocial Sciences)projectfundedbytheNetherlands OrganizationforScientificResearch(https://www.
Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (https://www.zonmw.nl/en/), grant number 531001410, awarded to KM. The LISS panel data were collected by CentERdata (Tilburg University, The Netherlands) through its MESS (Measurement and Experimentation in the Social Sciences) project funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (https://www. nwo.nl/en). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Schelleman-Offermans, Massar.
PY - 2020/12/28
Y1 - 2020/12/28
N2 - OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the current study was to investigate what role perceived life stress, psychological capital (PsyCap), financial self-reliance and time perspective orientations play in explaining socioeconomic health inequalities, specifically self-perceived health and self-reported physical health conditions.METHODS: Individuals (total n = 600) aged 16+ years from a general Dutch population sample (LISS panel) completed an online questionnaire measuring three different SEP indicators (highest achieved educational level, personal monthly disposable income and being in paid employment), perceived life stress, PsyCap, financial self-reliance, time perspective, self-perceived health, and self-reported physical health conditions. Structural equation modelling using a cross-sectional design was used to test the mediation paths from SEP indicators to self-perceived health and self-reported physical health conditions through perceived life stress, PsyCap, financial self-reliance and time perspective orientations.RESULTS: Highest achieved educational level and being in paid employment showed to play a role in the social stratification within self-reported and self-perceived health outcomes, whereas this was not found for personal monthly disposable income. The association between a lower highest achieved educational level and lower self-perceived health was mediated by lower PsyCap and higher perceived life stress levels. The association between a lower highest achieved educational level and higher levels of self-reported physical health conditions was mediated by less financial self-reliance and higher perceived life stress levels. Although no mediating role was found for time perspective orientations in the association between the measured SEP indicators and health outcomes, negative time perspective orientations were associated with either self-perceived health or self-reported physical health conditions.CONCLUSIONS: reserves (PsyCap and financial self-reliance) and perceived life stress seem to play a larger role in explaining the health gradient in achieved educational level than time perspective orientations. Prevention efforts trying to reduce the SEP-health gradient should focus on a) increasing reserves and lowering perceived life stress levels for individuals with a low achieved educational level, and b) reducing unemployment and narrowing opportunity gaps in education for people with a low SEP.
AB - OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the current study was to investigate what role perceived life stress, psychological capital (PsyCap), financial self-reliance and time perspective orientations play in explaining socioeconomic health inequalities, specifically self-perceived health and self-reported physical health conditions.METHODS: Individuals (total n = 600) aged 16+ years from a general Dutch population sample (LISS panel) completed an online questionnaire measuring three different SEP indicators (highest achieved educational level, personal monthly disposable income and being in paid employment), perceived life stress, PsyCap, financial self-reliance, time perspective, self-perceived health, and self-reported physical health conditions. Structural equation modelling using a cross-sectional design was used to test the mediation paths from SEP indicators to self-perceived health and self-reported physical health conditions through perceived life stress, PsyCap, financial self-reliance and time perspective orientations.RESULTS: Highest achieved educational level and being in paid employment showed to play a role in the social stratification within self-reported and self-perceived health outcomes, whereas this was not found for personal monthly disposable income. The association between a lower highest achieved educational level and lower self-perceived health was mediated by lower PsyCap and higher perceived life stress levels. The association between a lower highest achieved educational level and higher levels of self-reported physical health conditions was mediated by less financial self-reliance and higher perceived life stress levels. Although no mediating role was found for time perspective orientations in the association between the measured SEP indicators and health outcomes, negative time perspective orientations were associated with either self-perceived health or self-reported physical health conditions.CONCLUSIONS: reserves (PsyCap and financial self-reliance) and perceived life stress seem to play a larger role in explaining the health gradient in achieved educational level than time perspective orientations. Prevention efforts trying to reduce the SEP-health gradient should focus on a) increasing reserves and lowering perceived life stress levels for individuals with a low achieved educational level, and b) reducing unemployment and narrowing opportunity gaps in education for people with a low SEP.
KW - FUTURE CONSEQUENCES
KW - SMOKING
KW - INTERVENTION
KW - ASSOCIATION
KW - RESOURCES
KW - MORTALITY
KW - BELIEFS
KW - WOMEN
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0243730
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0243730
M3 - Article
C2 - 33370306
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 15
JO - PLOS ONE
JF - PLOS ONE
IS - 12
M1 - e0243730
ER -