Low socio-economic position is associated with poor social networks and social support: results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study

Simone Weyers¹ , Nico Dragano¹ , Susanne Möbus² , Eva-Maria Beck² , Andreas Stang⁴ , Stephan Möhlenkamp³ , Karl Heinz Jöckel² , Raimund Erbel³ and Johannes Siegrist¹

¹Department of Medical Sociology, University Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Duesseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, Duesseldorf, Germany

²Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

³West German Heart Center Essen, University Hospital, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

⁴Institute of Medical Epidemiology, Biometry and Informatics, Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany

author email corresponding author email

International Journal for Equity in Health 2008, 7:13doi:10.1186/1475-9276-7-13


Published:	5 May 2008

Abstract

Background

Social networks and social support are supposed to contribute to the development of unequal health within populations. However, little is known about their socio-economic distribution. In this study, we explore this distribution.

Methods

This study analyses the association of two indicators of socio-economic position, education and income, with different measures of social networks and support. Cross-sectional data have been derived from the baseline examination of an epidemiological cohort study of 4.814 middle aged urban inhabitants in Germany (Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out to estimate the risk of having poor social networks and support across socio-economic groups.

Results

Socially disadvantaged persons more often report poor social networks and social support. In multivariate analyses, based on education, odds ratios range from 1.0 (highest education) to 4.9 (lowest education) in a graded way. Findings based on income show similar effects, ranging from 1.0 to 2.5. There is one exception: no association of SEP with close ties living nearby and regularly seen was observed.

Conclusion

Poor social networks and low social support are more frequent among socio-economically disadvantaged people. To some extent, this finding varies according to the indicator chosen to measure these social constructs.