Introduction. Cumulating reports on the adverse health effects of income inequality hypothesise on underlying processes related to health compromising, negative social comparisons in people with a low socioeconomic status (compared to those who are socioeconomically better-off). As this hypothesis of “internalized inferiority” has not yet been examined explicitly, we set out to examine whether internalized inferiority is indeed more common in low socioeconomic status groups. Method. Dutch SMILE data on 1,477 participants, aged 58-94 in 2008 were used. Income in adulthood (measured several times between 2002 and 2008), education in adulthood (measured several times between 2002 and 2008), education of parents (measured in 2005), and poverty in childhood (measured in 2004) were related to general shame (measured in 2009) and social inadequacy (measured in 2004 and 2008), using logistic regression analyses. Results. Both education and income-related socioeconomic measures from childhood and adulthood had independent associations with social inadequacy. Poverty in childhood was related to reports of general shame. Discussion.In this cohort the socioeconomic status of middle-aged and older men and women, especially its financial component, impacts cognitions and feelings of internalized inferiority. Childhood socioeconomic circumstances, particularly experiences of poverty, contributed independently. Our findings suggest that negative social comparisons and internalized inferiority might be possible key players in the association between low socioeconomic status and poor health
