Health inequalities in Israel: explanatory factors of socio-economic inequalities in self-rated health and limiting longstanding illness.

We examined an integrated multi-level model of psychosocial, community and behavioral factors as explanatory pathways to socio-economic inequalities in health in Israel. Using a random national sample of 1328 individuals aged 30-70 and measurements of socio-economic position (education, number of cars), health outcomes-self-rated health, limiting longstanding illness (LLI), we evaluated the contribution of psychosocial factors (stressors and psychosocial resources), community factors (individual and aggregate-level social participation and social capital) and health behaviors, to the explanation of health inequalities. Community factors contributed more than psychosocial factors or health behaviors. The integrative model provided an explanation of social inequalities in both health outcomes and a full explanation for the education-LLI association. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.