Explaining social class differences in psychological health among young adults: a longitudinal perspective

The relationship between psychological health and occupational class was investigated in the large British sample of 23-year-old subjects from the 1958 birth cohort study. Odds of poor psychological health indicated by (1) the Malaise Inventory and (2) seeking help for a psychological problem between ages 16 and 23] were significantly greater in classes IV and V than in classes I and II: odds ratios were (1) 3.90 and 5.84, (2) 2.32 and 2.33 for men and women, respectively. Explanations for these differences were examined using longitudinal data representing 'inheritance' at birth, socio-economic background, educational achievement, earlier health and behaviour. The analyses suggested that each of these contributes to class differences in psychological health. Behaviour at age 16 (identified from the Rutter Behaviour Scale) was particularly notable for both psychological measures, as were educational achievement (for Malaise) and unemployment (for psychological morbidity needing specialist help). Mechanisms by which such factors might operate are discussed. Having accounted for earlier circumstances, class differences were no longer significant, except for Malaise in women. In this case an odds ratio of more than twofold remained after adjusting for earlier circumstances.