Physical Health and Social Class

As shown by researchers in multiple disciplines, one of the most well-established determinants of physical health is social class. Lower social class is associated with poorer physical health and higher risk of mortality. In this entry, conceptual and methodological aspects are discussed with a focus on understanding social health disparities and the efforts to decrease them. Specifically, empirical evidence is presented with regards to the nature of health inequalities across the lifespan and in specific social groups (e.g., race/ethnicity), the mechanisms that account for the association between social class and health, and the factors that explain individual differences in the health effects of lower social class