Daily Interpersonal Experience Partially Explains the Association Between Social Rank and Physical Health. Issue 6 (22nd June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cundiff, Jenny M.; Kamarck, Thomas W.; Manuck, Stephen B.
• Is Part Of: Annals of behavioral medicine. Volume 50:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 854
• Page End: 861
• Publication Date: 2016-06-22
• Subjects: Socioeconomic status -- Socioeconomic position -- Ecological momentary assessment -- Social interactions -- Physical health; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Sick -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Behavioral Medicine; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1007/s12160-016-9811-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-6612

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Socioeconomic position is a well-established risk factor for poor physical health. Purpose: This study examines whether the effects of lower social rank on physical health may be accounted for by differences in daily social experience. Methods: In a large community sample ( N = 475), we examined whether subjective social rank is associated with self-rated health, in part, through positive and negative perceptions of daily interpersonal interactions, assessed using ecological momentary assessment. Results: Higher social rank was associated with higher average perceived positivity of social interactions in daily life (e.g., B = .18, p < .001), but not with perceived negativity of social interactions. Further, the association between social rank and self-rated physical health was partially accounted for by differences in perceived positivity of social interactions. This effect was independent of well-characterized objective markers of SES and personality traits. Conclusions: Differences in the quality of day-to-day social interactions is a viable pathway linking lower social rank to poorer physical health.