The role of psychological characteristics in the relation between socioeconomic status and perceived health

Separate analyses of United States and Finnish samples demonstrate a graded (almost linear) relation between socioeconomic status (SES) and risk of po or perceived health. In both studies, positive psychological factors (great er social support; less anger, depression, and perceived stress) and benefi cial health practices (nonsmoking; drinking and exercising moderately) were associated with both higher levels of SES and better self-reported health. Psychological and health practice variables were both able to account for some of the SES and poor health gradient. However, contrary to expectations , these factors did not play a more important role in explaining decreased risk at the middle and highest levels of SES, and instead may be most impor tant at lowest levels.