The relation of social factors to physical and psychiatric illness

A study in social factors associated with illness status was conducted in an Australian suburban community. Forty six per cent of adults reported a chronic physical condition and twenty four per cent were psychiatrically impaired. Life event stress, adverse childhood experience and poor social support were related to both physical psychiatric illness. Low occupation status was associated with poor physical health and a poor coping style was associated with psychiatric illness. Twenty per cent of the physical illness and thirty seven per cent of the psychiatric impairment could be attributed to the presence of social factors.