Subjective socioeconomic status and the multidimensional health of Chinese residents

Abstract

As the most important component of human capital, health is a far-reaching and significant dimension in assessing social development. Using data from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS), this study distinguished self-rated, physical, and mental health to examine the association between subjective socioeconomic status (subjective SES) and multidimensional health among Chinese residents, and to test the roles of aging anxiety and education in this relationship. The results indicated that subjective SES was positively associated with self-rated, physical, and mental health. Aging anxiety partially mediated the relationship between subjective SES and each health dimension. Education moderated the associations between aging anxiety and self-rated as well as physical health; however, the moderation for mental health was not statistically significant. These findings highlight several areas warranting policy attention, including community-based psychosocial interventions and lifelong learning initiatives, with potential benefits for health among Chinese residents.