The accumulation of multiple sources of psychosocial disadvantage and their correlation to reported overall health: establishing a threshold.

Abstract

Psychosocial disadvantage and lower socioeconomic status are associated with increased risk of poor health. The purposes of this study are to identify a threshold at which cumulative psychosocial risk factors become significantly associated with a decrease in health status and to examine whether women are at higher risk than men. Using secondary cross-sectional data, a correlation of self-reported health rating and psychosocial risk factors was conducted. Participant characteristics by number of health-related psychosocial risks were constructed. The accumulation of risk factors had a negative effect on health status at the threshold of two; health status significantly decreased with the addition of each risk factor. Gender significantly moderated the relationship between number of risks and self-reported health status, with women's health decreasing as the number of risks increased. Risk factors in this study are typically part of client assessments and can be used in assisting social workers to identify those most at risk. Those with two or more risk factors are significantly more at risk for poorer health. Moreover, women and ethnic minorities were at more risk for poor health with the addition ofjust one risk factor.