Multidimensionality of Socioeconomic Status and its Effect on Health Outcomes in Contemporary Estonia

Abstract: Socioeconomic status (SES) and its effect on health outcomes for an individual is generally well researched, but the different mechanisms of different socioeconomic factors are yet still not fully understood. Using cross-sectional survey data for 50+ people in Estonia this thesis aims to analyse the multidimensional nature of different SES variables to see if the SES variables have an independent effect on health outcomes. In addition, this thesis examines whether SES variables have a weaker association with health outcomes in older age. To answer the questions, probit regressions are conducted. The results show a clear and significant association between SES variables and their outcome on self-rated health and two-year mortality where the effect is more pronounced and significant for self-rated health than two-year mortality. To some extend an independent effect for all SES variables studied in this thesis is found. Especially education is a persistent indicator where lower education leads to worse health outcomes also in older age. Furthermore, in the specific case of Estonia, income is a significant predictor of health outcomes. Additionally, my findings are consisted with the age-as-leveler hypotheses that states that in older ages SES variables have a less profound effect on health outcomes. The results obtained in this thesis show only associations and are not to be interpreted as causal. For future research, this thesis encourages scholars to study the multidimensionality of SES variables on health outcomes on different causes of death.