Socioeconomic Status of Families

A family's socioeconomic status (often referred to as SES) is based on family income, parental education level, and parental occupation. As compared to families with a higher socioeconomic status, families with low socioeconomic status often lack the financial, social, and educational supports that characterize families with high socioeconomic status. Family (for the purposes of this definition, the nuclear family) is defined as a fundamental social group in society typically consisting of two people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and usually reside in the same dwelling place and their children (typically this consists of parents and their children). In the United States and other developed countries, families with the greatest financial resources have the best health status and health outcomes. ...