Socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health and food consumption: the mediating roles of daily hassles and the perceived importance of health
Verra,Sanne E. Poelman,Maartje P. Mudd,Andrea L. de Vet,Emely de Wit,John Kamphuis,Carlijn B. M.
Verra,Sanne E.
Poelman,Maartje P.
Mudd,Andrea L.
de Vet,Emely
de Wit,John
Kamphuis,Carlijn B. M.
Abstract
BackgroundUrgent daily hassles, which are more common among people with a lower socioeconomic position (SEP), might limit one's ability to address less pressing goals, such as goals related to health promotion. Consequently, health goals may be viewed as less focal, which could jeopardize one's health. This study examined an understudied pathway: whether a higher severity of daily hassles resulted in a lower perceived importance of health and whether these two factors sequentially mediate socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health (SAH) and food consumption.MethodsA cross-sectional survey among 1,330 Dutch adults was conducted in 2019. Participants self-reported SEP (household income, educational level), the severity of eleven daily hassles (e.g., financial hassles, legal hassles), the perceived importance of health (not being ill, living a long life), SAH, and food consumption. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether daily hassles and the perceived importance of health sequentially mediated income and educational inequalities in SAH, fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) and snack consumption.ResultsNo evidence of sequential mediation through daily hassles and the perceived importance of health was found. Daily hassles individually mediated income inequalities in SAH (indirect effect: 0.04, total effect: 0.06) and in FVC (indirect effect: 0.02, total effect: 0.09). The perceived importance of not being ill and living a long life both individually mediated educational inequalities in SAH (indirect effects: 0.01 and -0.01, respectively, total effect: 0.07).ConclusionsIncome inequalities in SAH and FVC were explained by daily hassles, and educational inequalities in SAH were explained by the perceived importance of health. Socioeconomic inequalities may not be sequentially explained by a more severe experience of daily hassles and a lower perceived importance of health. Interventions and policies addressing challenging circumstances associated with a low income may improve SAH and healthy food consumption among lower-income groups.
Description
Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).
Date
2023-12
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Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Keywords
Food intake, Health status disparities, [MeSH terms], Socioeconomic factors, SDG 1 - No Poverty, SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
Citation
Verra, S E, Poelman, M P, Mudd, A L, de Vet, E, de Wit, J & Kamphuis, C B M 2023, 'Socioeconomic inequalities in self-assessed health and food consumption : the mediating roles of daily hassles and the perceived importance of health'. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15077-0