Methods Data from the Oxford Healthy Lifestyles Survey in (OHLS III, n = 6454), a cross-sectional survey of adult men and women aged 78-64 randomly selected from the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire, were analysed. The associations of the NS-SEC with the SF-36 physical and mental summary scores are investigated in a series of regression models controlling for age, lifestyle factors, housing and neighbourhood conditions.

Results There are significant social class differences in the SF-36 physical and mental summary scores after controlling for age. When lifestyle, housing and neighbourhood conditions are controlled for, these differences reduce to non-significance.

Conclusion The NS-SEC shows significant social class differences in health, further evidence for its construct validity. Social class differences in housing, neighbourhood and lifestyle factors appear to have a large role in understanding class differences in health. As it is grounded in theory, the NS-SEC is likely to prove a valuable tool for explanations of inequalities in hearth.