The Relationship Between Economic Status, Poverty, and Health among Arabs in Israel

Background Arabs in Israel, comprising about 21% of the population, are recognized as an indigenous minority with full citizenship rights, yet they face persistent structural disadvantages compared to Jewish citizens. These disparities are evident across socioeconomic, educational, employment, and health domains. High poverty rates, particularly among women, children, and the elderly, are aggravated by limited governmental investment in infrastructure, education, and health services. Arab women’s labor force participation remains notably low due to systemic barriers. Extensive evidence links socioeconomic status with health outcomes and behaviors. This study examines how sociodemographic factors and health knowledge influence the relationship between economic status, self-rated health, and health behaviors among Arabs in Israel Methods This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2015–2016 Health and Environment Survey among Arabs in Israel (HESPI). Employing a three-stage stratified cluster sampling of 2,018 households, face-to-face interviews gathered socio-demographic, economic, and health-related data. The final sample included 2,041 adults representing diverse socioeconomic and geographic groups within Arab communities. Results Approximately half of participants lived below the poverty line. Those with lower economic status exhibited poorer self-rated health, higher prevalence of chronic illness, and lower engagement in physical activity, while smoking and BMI did not significantly differ by economic status. Family size moderated the relationships between economic status and both chronic illness and SRH, indicating that smaller families serve as a resilience factor. Educational attainment moderated the link between economic status and physical activity. Regression analyses revealed that gender, age, education, and health knowledge significantly predicted health outcomes and behaviors, with health knowledge mediating several associations. Conclusions The findings indicate that poverty is strongly associated with poorer health outcomes and behaviors among Arabs in Israel. Smaller family size and higher education act as resilience factors, mitigating these effects. Health knowledge plays a key mediating role, emphasizing the importance of socioeconomic empowerment and education in promoting health equity.