The role of psychosocial factors in explaining socio-economic differences in mobility decline in a chronically ill population: results from the GLOBE study

Low occupational level and low income predicted an increased risk of mobility decline in comparison to people with a higher occupational level and income, even after controlling for sociodemographics, disease severity, co-morbidity, and health-related behavior. Additional adjustment for psychosocial factors hardly reduced the SES-related odds ratios of mobility decline. We conclude that psychosocial factors (and also health-related behaviors, disease severity and co-morbidity) cannot explain socio-economic differences in mobility decline in a chronically ill population. Our findings will not give us new tools for prevention and intervention strategies in order to reduce physical disability and particularly the SES differences therein.