The association of subjective social status and health in low-income Mexican-origin individuals in Texas

There is only limited research on subjective social status (SSS) and its effect on health in general and in minority US populations in particular. This study first investigates the determinants of SSS and the relationship between SSS and objective social status. It then explores the relationships of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science & medicine (1982) 2006-08, Vol.63 (3), p.788-804
Main Authors: Franzini, Luisa, Fernandez-Esquer, Maria Eugenia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acculturation
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Attitude to Health - ethnology
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Health
Health indicators
Health Status Indicators
Hispanic Americans
Humans
Low income
Low Income Groups
Male
Medical sciences
Mental Health
Mexican American people
Mexican Americans
Mexican Americans - psychology
Mexican–American
Mexico - ethnology
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Physical Fitness
Poverty
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Self Concept
Social Class
Social comparison
Social comparisons
Social research
Social Status
Sociocultural Factors
Socioeconomic Status
Subjective status
Subjective status Socioeconomic status Health indicators Mexican-American Acculturation Social comparisons USA
Subjectivity
Texas
U.S.A
United States of America
USA
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Summary:There is only limited research on subjective social status (SSS) and its effect on health in general and in minority US populations in particular. This study first investigates the determinants of SSS and the relationship between SSS and objective social status. It then explores the relationships of SSS to self-reported physical health, self-reported mental health, and self-rated health (SRH). The study population consists of Mexican-origin individuals living in low-income neighborhoods in Texas and grouped into acculturation categories based on nativity and use of the Spanish language. We also investigate the role of reference groups. Results indicate that there is no disjuncture between subjective and objective status in this population but that the less acculturated groups rank their social status based on different criteria than the more acculturated. People compare themselves mainly with those similar to them and average subjective status in the different acculturation groups accurately reflects the objective status of the group. Sociocultural factors, in particular perceived differences in opportunities, explain differences between subjective and objective status. Subjective status was associated with all health outcomes. When controlling for objective status, subjective status was associated with mental health and SRH but not with physical health. Objective status indicators were consistently associated with all health outcomes, indicating the prominence of objective socioeconomic status in affecting health in this low-income minority population. Sociocultural characteristics appear to mediate the effect of SSS on health. In particular, perceived victimization might mediate the effect of SSS on mental health.
ISSN:0277-9536
1873-5347
DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.01.009