Table 2

Data syntheses of study characteristics

AuthorStudy and study designCountry, N, ageSexSRH (question and coding)SES indicatorPathwayVariables of pathways (operationalisation)Study quality
1. Aldabe et al (2010)EQLS, cross-sectional28 countries, N=12 421, age: 18–50+♀♂‘In general, would you say your health is…’
5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘excellent’, ‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘fair’ and ‘poor’) health

Education, occupationMaterial, psychosocial, occupationalMaterial: household tenure, housing conditions, crowding, material deprivation, financial problems, neighbourhood conditions, quality of public services, access to medical services
Occupational: sector of economy, permanency of work contract, number of hours normally worked per week, daily commuting time, dangerous/unhealthy working conditions, job insecurity, psychological demands, decision latitude, reward, responsibility for supervising the work of others, additional paid job
Psychosocial: marital status, number of children, unpaid work, work–life imbalance, social support, social network, social participation, trust level, social exclusion		68%
2. Daoud et al (2009)National random sample, cross-sectionalIsrael, N=902
age: 30–70		AdjustedQuestion not mentioned 5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘fair’, ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’) health

EducationMaterial, psychosocial, behavioural, cultural, communityMaterial: family income source, relative income
Cultural: adherence to cultural traditions, consanguineous marriages
Psychosocial: stressful life events, social support, social networks, mastery, coping efficacy (personal ability to control life situations)
Community: social participation, civic engagement, social capital, access to healthcare services, neighbourhood problems
Behavioural: smoking, physical activity, diet		73%
3. Hiyoshi et al (2014)CSLC, cross-sectionalJapan, N=40 243, age: 20–59♀♂‘What is your current health (condition)?’ 5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘excellent’, ‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘fair’ and ‘poor’) health

Household income, occupationMaterial, psychosocial, behavioural, social relationalMaterial: homeownership (eg, renting, work-related accommodation, social housing, lodging), living density
Behavioural: sleep, diet, (ir)regular intake of meals, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, health check-ups
Psychosocial: perceived stress
Social relational: marital status, living alone		83%
4. Kestiliä et al (2009)Health 2000, cross-sectionalFinland
N=1282
age: 18–29		Adjusted‘In general, would you say your health is…’ 5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘average’, ‘quite poor’ and ‘poor’) health

EducationMaterial (structural), behavioural, childhood circumstancesChildhood circumstances: parental education, urbanisation level of childhood residence, childhood family structure, childhood adversities
Current circumstances (defined as material/structural): own education, main economic activity, urbanisation level of current residence, current family structure
Health behaviour and obesity: smoking, alcohol consumption, BMI, physical activity, vegetable consumption		78%
5. Kurtze et al (2012)Survey of Level of Living (the Health Study), cross-sectionalNorway
N=5764
age: 24–79		Adjusted‘How is your health in general' 5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘fair’, ‘bad’, ‘very bad’) health

EducationMaterial, psychosocial, behaviouralBehaviour: moderate and vigorous physical activity, nutrition, alcohol consumption, smoking
Material: household income
Psychosocial: number of persons being close to the respondent		65%
6. Laaksonen et al (2005)Helsinki health study, 2 cross sectional surveysFinland
N=6062
age: 40–60		♀♂Participants were asked to rate their health 5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘excellent’, ‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘fair’ and ‘poor’) health

OccupationMaterial, behaviouralMaterial: household income, housing tenure, financial difficulties, financial satisfaction
Behavioural: smoking, alcohol use, heavy drinking, drinking problems, physical activity, dietary habits, relative body weight (BMI)		72%
7. Moor et al (2014)HBSC Study, cross-sectional28 countries
N=117 460
age: 11–15		Adjusted‘Would you say your health is…' 4 categories (dichotomised)

  1. good ('excellent' and 'good')

  2. poor ('fair' and 'poor')

FASPsychosocial, behaviouralPsychosocial: relationship with mother and father, classmate support, satisfaction with school, academic achievement, school-related stress, number of friends, time with friends after school, support of the best friend
Behavioural: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity (MPVA), consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, soft drinks, breakfast, sedentary behaviour (TV, PC games, PC work)		80%
8. Richter and Mielck (2000)G-SOEP, longitudinal (analyses are based on cross-sectional data)Germany, N= 5311 age 25–69♂♀‘In general, would you say your health is…’SES index: schooling and professional education, equivalence income, occupational prestigeMaterial (structural), behaviouralMaterial (structural): workload, condition after closing time, workplace security, social network, employment status, everyday strain, health-related locus of control
Behavioural: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, healthy diet, paying attention to health, BMI, hypertension, total cholesterol		63%
5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘very good’, ‘good’, ‘average’) and

  2. poor (‘quite poor’ and ‘poor’) health

9. Richter et al (2012)HBSC Study, cross-sectionalGermany
N=6997
age: 11–15		♀♂‘Would you say for health is…' 4 categories (dichotomised):

  1. Good (‘excellent’ and ‘good’

  2. poor (‘fair’ and ‘poor’)

FASMaterial, psychosocial, behaviouralMaterial: Family structure, perceived family wealth, (Food) poverty
Psychosocial: relationship with mother and father, classmate support, satisfaction with school, academic achievement, school-related stress, number of friends, time with friends after school, support of the best friend
Behavioural: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity (MPVA), consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, soft drinks, breakfast		78%
10. Saskolne and Manor (2010)Random national sample, cross-sectionalIsrael
N=1328
age: 30–70		AdjustedQuestion not mentioned 5 categories (dichotomised):

  1. good (‘very good’ and ‘good’) and

  2. poor (‘fair’, ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’) health

Education, financial assetsPsychosocial, behaviouralPsychosocial: stressors (recent life events, chronic stressors), cognitive appraisal of the stressors, psychosocial resources (mastery, coping efficacy, social support)
Community: individual-level (neighbourhood living conditions, social capital), community-level (social capital, socioeconomic community score)
Behavioural: smoking, physical activity, sun protection		73%
11. Van Jaarsveld et al (2007)UK FS Trial, cross-sectionalUK
N=5253
age: 55–64		Adjusted‘Would you say that for someone of your age, your health in general is…' 4 categories (dichotomised):0) ‘excellent’ or ‘good’

  1. ‘fair’ or ‘poor’

SES index: individual deprivation (education, housing tenure, car ownership) and neighbourhood deprivation (unemployment, housing tenure, car access, social class, overcrowding, etc)Psychosocial, behaviouralBehavioural: smoking, exercise, fruit intake
Psychosocial: stress, optimism, social support		75%

  • BMI, body mass index; CSLC, Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions; EQLS, European Quality of Life Study; FAS, Family Affluence Scale; FS, Flexible Sigmoidoscopy; G-SOEP, German national socioeconomic panel; HBSC, Health Behaviour in School-aged Children; MPVA, Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity.