Socioeconomic Status and Mental Disorder: New Evidence and a Sociomedical Formulation

Abstract

Despite numerous studies which show that socioeconomic status and mental illness are inversely related, it is possible that this relationship exists for some disorders but not others. Study of approximately 10,000 first admissions to state hospitals in one state covering the period 1956-65 shows an inverse relationship only for organic and schizophrenic disorders. In light of the etiological and predisposing factors that are involved in these two disorders, physical and medical factors appear to be more important than psychological (e.g., stress) factors in mediating the relationship with socioeconomic status. It is concluded, therefore, that a sociomedical formulation (in contrast to a sociopsychiatric formulation) is a plausible interpretation of the relationship between socioeconomic status and mental disorder.