[Health, sport and socioeconomic vulnerability in an urban community]

To analyse the association between perceived and diagnosed health, sport practice, and the belonging to a vulnerable socioeconomic group.

Observational study. Questionnaire.

Casablanca neighbourhood. Primary Health Care Area in the city of Zaragoza (Spain).

1032 residents aged over 15 years.

a) Perceived health using the Health Perception Questionnaire of Davis and Ware; b) diagnosed morbidity; c) sport practice using the Healthy Lifestyles questionnaire-94 of Herrero, Musitu and Gracia, and d) socioeconomic vulnerability based on the occupational, educational and economic conditions of the family unit.

Socioeconomic vulnerability had a statistically significant association with diagnosed health, self-perceived health, and sport practice. Vulnerability and exercise showed a higher influence over self-perceived health than over diagnosed health. In the analysis stratified by gender, the association could only be observed in men.

The impact of health social factors is modulated by gender. Social stratification and lifestyles, such as sport practice, are predictors of self-perceived health and, thus, of the relationship between the population and the use of health services.