Psychological factors as mechanisms for socioeconomic disparities in health: A critical appraisal of four common factors

Abstract

Social epidemiology has increasingly looked to psychological factors as both risk factors for physical health and mechanisms behind disparities. Yet, there has been little resolution to the question of whether psychological factors explain disparities, and skepticism has begun to mount about whether psychological factors are causally linked to health. Furthermore, some have questioned the nature of the relationship: most research suggests that psychological factors mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and health, but recent research suggests that they moderate the relationship. The present paper attempts to provide a more comprehensive appraisal of the current debate. It uses four popular psychological factors (i.e., self‐esteem, mastery, neuroticism, and depressive symptoms), three health outcomes, and a nationally representative, three‐panel longitudinal survey. The results illustrate the promise and limitations of psychological mechanisms. In the cross‐section, the results provide evidence for substantial moderating effects, but these effects disappear entirely when estimated prospectively. The results also provide some evidence for mediating effects, but these effects are very weak and the prospective effects of psychological factors diminish over time and with controls for baseline health. Implications for theories of socioeconomic status and health are discussed and a more social psychologically sophisticated approach is encouraged.

Notes

A University of Pennsylvania Research Foundation grant supported this research. I thank Jane D. McLeod for helpful comments and advice on related projects.