Psychosocial and material pathways in the relation between income and health: a response to Lynch et al

Economic and social circumstances affect health through die physiological effects of their emotional and social meanings and the direct effects of material circumstances Material conditions do not adequately explain health inequalities in rich countries The relation between smaller inequalities in income and better population health reflects increased psychosocial wellbeing In rich countries wellbeing is more closely related to relative income than absolute income Social dominance, inequality, autonomy, and the quality of social relations have an impact on psychosocial wellbeing and are among the most powerful explanations for the pattern of population health in rich countries.