SOCIO: Social Inequalities in Health

Question 1

Where do social inequalities stem from? + list some examples

Answer 1

• stem from structured social divisions that exist within societies
• they are NOT unavoidable (are avoidable) because they do not reflect biological/genetic differences

e.g.
- ethnicity, gender, socio-economic class

Question 2

What is the social model of health outcomes?

Answer 2

social + economic + environmental factors have a major impact on patterns of population health and disease
these factors are the social determinants of health
therefore, your relative health risk primarily relates to your socio-economic class etc

• educational attainment is linked with behaviours and outcomes: low attainment impacts on later life → quality of work, earnings, crime, morbidity + death
• employment is linked with behaviours and outcomes: important determinant of mental + physical health → children in workless households 2 x more likely to fail at education
• living standards/income is linked with behaviours and outcomes: as income rises, health outcomes improve → parent income affects child’s early educational opportunities → affects child’s future employment + income

Question 3

Describe the idea that health occurs across a social gradient *

Answer 3

• there is a general consensus that there is a correlation between health outcomes and income inequality
• epidemiologists have found that risks to health are associated with social disadvantage
• and these risks cluster together + accumulate over time
• therefore, inequalities in health should be seen as occurring across a social gradient (because they exist across all levels of society)
• rather than only being an outcome for those living in a state of social deprivation
• so inequalities exist at all levels of society but more in lower socioeconomic class etc

Question 4

What are the issues with ‘health across a social gradient’? + psychological stress theory *

Answer 4

issue:
- less consensus over if income inequality causes health and social inequalities independently to other social and environmental factors
- i.e. is it just income inequality itself causing health outcomes? ↓

psychological stress theory:
- social anxiety about your status produces biological stress that is mediated by psychological factors
- therefore, ‘social inequality’ is harmful because it places people in a hierarchy
- this increases competition for status, causing stress
- leading to poor health outcomes + other negative outcomes

Question 5

example SAQ (prev student)

Explain what is meant by the ‘social determinants of health’ (5 marks)

Question 6

example SAQ (Iain)

Identify and briefly describe two social
explanations that account for the contemporary trend in health inequalities.

Question 7

example SAQ (Iain)

In outline, describe the differences in health
outcomes that currently exist between social
classes in the U.K.