Social inequalities in health

Question 1

What is the social model of health outcomes?

Answer 1

Social, economic, and environmental factors have a major impact on patterns of population health and disease < social determinants of health

Examples:

Educational attainment - linked to health behaviours and outcomes. Lower attainment impacts: quality of work, future earnings, involvement in crime, high morbidity

Employment - unemployment affects individuals and also children growing up in those houses

Living standards/ income - higher income = better health outcomes

Parent’s income > affects child’s educational opportunities > affects their income

Question 2

What is health inequity?

Answer 2

Unequal distribution of resources between different population groups - results in different levels of access to the service

Question 3

In epidemiology, what is there are a correlation between?

Answer 3

Income inequality and health outcomes

Question 4

What determines the structure of health outcomes in society?

Answer 4

Social and material conditions in a society structure the health outcomes

Question 5

What is associated with risks to health and how do they accumulate?

Answer 5

Social disadvantage is associated with risks to health. They can cluster together and accumulate over time/ longitudinally

Question 6

Patterns in health inequalities

Answer 6

Social gradient, rather than just an outcome for the most deprived

Question 7

What is the pathological stress theory?

Answer 7

Social anxiety about status produces biological stress mediated by a range of psychological factors

Question 8

Why is inequality harmful?

Answer 8

Places people in a hierarchy which increases competition for status > causes stress > leads to poor health and other negative outcomes