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Review
. 2011:62:501-30.
doi: 10.1146/annurev.psych.031809.130711.

Psychological perspectives on pathways linking socioeconomic status and physical health

Karen A Matthews  1 , Linda C Gallo
Affiliations
Review

Psychological perspectives on pathways linking socioeconomic status and physical health

Karen A Matthews et al. Annu Rev Psychol. 2011.

Abstract

Low socioeconomic status (SES) is a reliable correlate of poor physical health. Rather than treat SES as a covariate, health psychology has increasingly focused on the psychobiological pathways that inform understanding why SES is related to physical health. This review assesses the status of research that has examined stress and its associated distress, and social and personal resources as pathways. It highlights work on biomarkers and biological pathways related to SES that can serve as intermediate outcomes in future studies. Recent emphasis on the accumulation of psychobiological risks across the life course is summarized and represents an important direction for future research. Studies that test pathways from SES to candidate psychosocial pathways to health outcomes are few in number but promising. Future research should test integrated models rather than taking piecemeal approaches to evidence. Much work remains to be done, but the questions are of great health significance.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Morbidity rate by socioeconomic status level. (a) Percent diagnosed osteoarthritis, (b) relative prevalence of chronic disease, (c) prevalence of hypertension, and (d) rate of cervical cancer per 100,000. Original figure from Adler et al. (1994).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Psychobiological influences on the socioeconomic status–health gradient.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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