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Tracing the social gradient in the health of Canadians: primary and secondary determinants

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  • Kosteniuk, Julie G.
  • Dickinson, Harley D.

Abstract

The social gradient in heath refers to the fact that inequalities in population health status are related to inequalities in social status. This study advances and tests a model of the relationships between what we term primary and secondary determinants of the social gradient in health. The primary determinants of health include socioeconomic and demographic indicators. Secondary determinants include stressors, control, self-esteem, social support, and social involvement. Health status is indicated by measures of physical health, self-reported health status, and mental distress. Data are taken from the Canadian National Population Health (NPH) Survey (1994-1995). The study sample consists of 7720 men and 9269 women 15 to over 80 years of age. Using path analysis, we found that higher household income, being retired and growing older are significantly associated with lower stressor levels. Higher stressor levels are associated with lower levels of control, self-esteem, and social support. Higher income Canadians experience greater levels of control and social support, while older Canadians experience lower rates of social support but higher rates of social involvement. Being employed and caring for one's family are positively associated with better physical and self-reported health status. Higher household income, being retired, and aging are associated with better physical health and lower mental distress when accounting for their role in lowering stressor levels and bolstering control, self-esteem, social support, and social involvement. Replicating this study with future samples of the NPH Survey should be of benefit in ascertaining whether the social gradient in Canadians' health status shows signs of declining.

Suggested Citation

  • Kosteniuk, Julie G. & Dickinson, Harley D., 2003. "Tracing the social gradient in the health of Canadians: primary and secondary determinants," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 57(2), pages 263-276, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:57:y:2003:i:2:p:263-276
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Di Novi, Cinzia & Leporatti, Lucia & Montefiori, Marcello, 2021. "The role of education in psychological response to adverse health shocks," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(5), pages 643-650.
    2. Raftopoulou, Athina, 2017. "Geographic determinants of individual obesity risk in Spain: A multilevel approach," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 185-193.
    3. Paulina Ucieklak-Jeż & Agnieszka Bem, 2020. "Does “Rural” Always Mean the Same? Macrosocial Determinants of Rural Populations’ Health in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-17, January.
    4. Silvia Loi & Peng Li & Mikko Myrskylä, 2023. "Immigrant-native health disparities: an intersectional perspective on the weathering hypothesis," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2023-005, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    5. Furnée, Carina A. & Pfann, Gerard A., 2010. "Individual vulnerability and the nurturing state: The case of self-reported health and relative income," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(1), pages 125-133, July.
    6. Prus, Steven G., 2011. "Comparing social determinants of self-rated health across the United States and Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 73(1), pages 50-59, July.
    7. Cheuk Hee Cheung & Tansel Yilmazer, 2019. "Wealth Management While Dealing with Memory Loss," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 470-485, September.
    8. Wolf, Michael S. & Feinglass, Joseph & Thompson, Jason & Baker, David W., 2010. "In search of 'low health literacy': Threshold vs. gradient effect of literacy on health status and mortality," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 70(9), pages 1335-1341, May.

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