title: The mediating effect of social relationships on the association between socioeconomic status and subjective health - results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of population health. Explanatory approaches on how SES determines health have so far included numerous factors, amongst them psychosocial factors such as social relationships. However, it is unclear whether social relationships can help explain socioeconomic differences in general subjective health. Do different aspects of social relationships contribute differently to the explanation? Based on a cohort study of middle and older aged residents (45 to 75 years) from the Ruhr Area in Germany our study tries to clarify the matter.
  
  
  METHODS
  For the analyses data from the population-based prospective Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) Study is used. As indicators of SES education, equivalent household income and occupational status were employed. Social relations were assessed by including structural as well as functional aspects. Structural aspects were estimated by the Social Integration Index (SII) and functional aspects were measured by availability of emotional and instrumental support. Data on general subjective health status was available for both baseline examination (2000-2003) and a 5-year follow-up (2006-2008). The sample consists of 4,146 men and women. Four logistic regression models were calculated: in the first model we controlled for age and subjective health at baseline, while in models 2 and 3, either functional or structural aspects of social relationships were introduced separately. Model 4 then included all variables. As former studies indicated different health effects of SES and social relations in men and women, analyses were conducted with the overall sample as well as for each gender alone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prospective associations of SES and subjective health were reduced after introducing social relationships into the regression models. Percentage reductions between 2% and 30% were observed in the overall sample when all aspects of social relations were included. The percentage reductions were strongest in the lowest SES group. Gender specific analyses revealed mediating effects of social relationships in women and men. The magnitude of mediating effects varied depending on the indicators of SES and social relations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social relationships substantially contribute to the explanation of SES differences in subjective health. Interventions for improving social relations which especially focus on socially deprived groups are likely to help reducing socioeconomic disparities in health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sociology and Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. n.vonneilich@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vonneilich
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jöckel
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dragano
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von dem Knesebeck
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012008:Recurrence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D012951:Socialization; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D014505:Urban Population