Socioeconomic inequalities in health: the role of daily hassles and the importance of health

This study examines whether socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health are mediated by daily hassles and/or the perceived importance of health, and whether there is sequential mediation of daily hassles and perceived importance of health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019 among N = 1,334 Dutch adults. Participants rated the extent of eleven commonly experienced daily hassles (e.g., financial hassles, legal issues), and indicated the perceived importance of two health-related domains (not being ill, living a long life). Inequalities in self-assessed health according to SEP (indicated by income and education) were examined using structural equation modelling, with daily hassles and perceived importance of not being ill or living long a life either as single or sequential mediators. Daily hassles and perceived importance of health individually mediated the relationship between SEP and self-assessed health, but importance of health did not mediate the association between by daily hassles self-assessed health. Socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health were explained by the experience of daily hassles, and by differences in the perceived importance of health individually, but the perceived importance of health did not explain the influence of the experience of daily hassles. Addressing the challenging circumstances (e.g., financial or housing hassles) associated with a low SEP, may contribute to improving self-assessed health. Further research should e...
Source: The European Journal of Public Health - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research