Socioeconomic status as the strongest predictor of self-rated health in Iranian population; a population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background There is little evidence comparing the role of subjective versus objective indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) on individuals' self-rated health (SRH) in Iran. Objectives We aimed to investigate underlying predictors of SRH including subjective and objective SES in Tehran, a multi-ethnic city. Method This is an analysis of cross-sectional survey data on subjective and objective SES from a population-based case-control study conducted in Tehran, Iran (2015). We used random digit dialing for study sample recruitment. Linear regression models were used for estimating crude and adjusted coefficients (95% confidence intervals). Age, gender, SES as well as cigarette smoking were included as confounders. Results 15–50 years old residents of Tehran were recruited in the study ( n  = 1057). High reported objective and subjective SES was consistently associated with a better SRH. Subjective current SES ( p p  = .018), change in subjective SES (current vs. adolescent) ( p  = .034) and participants' education years (p  Conclusion High subjective and objective SES consistently was the most important predictor of high SRH.