Determinants of Self-reported Health in Middle-Aged Canadians: Examining the Role of Perceived Socioeconomic Status

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of self-reported health (SRH) among 1,674 middle-aged Canadians using data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey (WVS-7) collected between 2017 and 2022. A probit regression model was employed to analyse the influence of various factors on health outcomes. The findings highlight that perceived socioeconomic status (PSES) plays a significant role in health, with individuals in higher socioeconomic classes reporting significantly lower probabilities of poor health. Contrary to expectations, traditional demographic factors such as foreign-born status, gender, marital status, language proficiency, ethnicity, and education levels do not significantly predict poor health. The analysis of interaction terms between PSES and these variables revealed no significant interaction effects, indicating that the impact of PSES on health is consistent across different subgroups. Additionally, being employed and having children at home were identified as protective factors against poor health. Regional variations were mostly insignificant, except for Prince Edward Island, where residents were less likely to report poor health. The study underscores the importance of improving socioeconomic conditions to reduce health disparities and enhance public health among middle-aged Canadians.