Status Syndrome. Michael Marmot. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2004, pp. 288, £12.99 (PB) ISBN: 0747570493

Abstract

In a few of the many anecdotes sprinkled throughout this book, Marmot points to the insults which academics employ in their intellectual wars. Misquoting one of these provides a good summary of the latest monograph—all of it is interesting; much of it is likely to be true. Irrespective of whether all Marmot's claims are correct the book makes a valuable contribution to the debate about the basis of health inequalities.The book is an elaboration of the case Marmot has advocated over some years that socioeconomic status (SES) inequalities in health are partly a consequence of a lesser degree of control manifested by those at different levels of the SES hierarchy. In a research context social control is conceptualized as a mediating variable, operating in much the same way, but independently of other mediators such as tobacco use, diet, and physical activity.