Social Inequalities in Health Flashcards
Social inequalities?
Unequal access to valued resources, services & positions in society
Social gradient in health?
-Improvements in health outcomes shown as SES/class position is raised
-Progressive worsening in health outcomes shown as SES/class position is ‘lowered’
Trend shown -> those with higher SES/class position have better health outcomes compared to those with lower SES/class position & this trend is progressive & linear
What is low SES/poverty linked to - physical & mental?
-Obesity
-Poor mental health
= higher prevalence of these seen
–> social deprivation
What is the gradient health across England?
Regional discrepancies
Heath gradient seen - in north = worse health outcomes compared to south
(along with their being big health gaps within social groups of a region)
What are 4 of the main drivers of social divisions & inequality?
-Social Class
-Gender
-Ethnicity
-Age
What is social class?
A class = group of people in society who possess the same SES
–> & so refers to divisions in society based upon these SES differences
-People in same class often share similar wealth levels, education, job type & income
-Income
-Wealth
-Status
-Power
-Occupation
–> marked differences between people of different social classes in their health outcomes & so in health inequalities they are subject to
What did the black report (1980) highlight?
Those in lower SES groups had a far higher risk of dying prematurely than more advantaged groups
–> demonstrated exnet ill-health & death are unequally distributed amoung Britain
–> & these inequalities are widening
–> are caused by social inequalities which influence health
*Link between ill health & inequality
What were the 4 categories the black report divided the explanation for the link between ill health & inequality into?
- Artefact explanations
- Natural or social selection
- Materialist and structural explanations
- Cultural/behavioural explanations
What is the artefact explanation (black report) for the link between ill health & inequality?
-Health & class = artefacts of the measurement porocess
-> relationship seen = little casual significance
THIS MEANS -> their relationship may reflect changing trends in occupational classes
What is the natural & social selection explanation (black report) for the link between ill health & inequality?
-Physical weaknesses – passed down in lower classes – compared to upper classes
-Survival of fittest
-Inherited characteristics account for differences in wealth
BUT…
-Inherited conditions do not explain the regional gap – earn same amount of money but lower life expectancies in different regions
What are the materialist/structuralist explanations (black report) for the link between ill health & inequality?
-Economic deprivation -> poverty -> impacts way of life
-> can’t afford heating on -> resp illnesses
OR
-> can’t afford to eat healthily -> obesity & diseases linked to obesity
*Poverty = materialistic
*Unemployment/lack of secure employment = structural
*Education = structural
-> unemployement -> mental ill health: depression, anxiety, stress
-> no qualifications -> live deprived lives -> lower health life expactancy
SO - link between poverty, unemployment & education –> all influencing link between ill health & inequalities
What are the cultural/behavioural explanations (black report) for the link between ill health & inequality?
“Culture of poverty”
Personal traits in different cultures influence the link between ill health & inequality
-Reckless behs e.g., smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise -> are part of culture -> determines health status
+VES OF THIS EXPLANATION:
–> gives explanation for regional differences in health status where SES is the same
WHat does cultural habitus & capital explain?
Class is not just purely limited to SES - but also hierarchical distinction between classes due to differences in cultural practices
-Habitus = patterns of thinking, ways of acting - which vary between SES & explains difference in health outcomes in relation to SES but also regional differences in health outcomes where SES is similar
–> common among individuals of a particular class in a particular region
Class identity?
Class divisions are not based simply upon SES - as the phenomena of class is complex - as it is not only influenced by affluence (SES), but also race, gender, sexuality
So -> what role does culture play in class & so health outcomes?
We demonstrate our culture in what we do, say & think -> these are deep rooted & mean we make health decisions unconsciously as these are embedded within our culture
Influenced by: SES, education, employment, race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, nationality, language…
