Social Class and Health Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are social class differentials in health and mortality?

Patterns and explanations in comparative perspective.

What has become a prominent topic in health studies according to Elo 2009?

Social class inequalities in health and mortality.

What do various measures in studies of health inequalities define?

Social class.

That social class inequalities are pervasive is now well established, but ______________ are less clearly understood.

factors that underlie them. Signup and view all the answers

Promising new research approaches include those that employ a ________________ perspective in the study of health inequalities.

life course perspective. Signup and view all the answers

How do social class inequalities lead to health inequalities?

Through socioeconomic status (SES) indicators. Signup and view all the answers

What is one significant indicator of socioeconomic status?

Educational attainment. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'learned effectiveness' refer to?

Education promoting knowledge, skills, and resources. Signup and view all the answers

How does education influence health according to Elo 2009?

Through psychosocial factors, wealth, and occupation. Signup and view all the answers

What protective effects does occupation have on health in the context of socioeconomic status?

Greater perceived control and less workplace hazards. Signup and view all the answers

How does childhood socioeconomic status impact adult health?

Through health behaviors and early ill health. Signup and view all the answers

What does Elo 2009 recommend for examining health impacts?

How education impacts health over the life course. Signup and view all the answers

Of all measures of SES, ___________ is the single SES indicator that most consistently exhibits a significant association with health.

educational attainment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of educational attainment regarding disease onset?

It is associated with the timing of disease onset. Signup and view all the answers

The association between education and health is partly mediated by and .

income and occupation. Signup and view all the answers

What does higher occupational status lead to in terms of health-related factors?

Lower stress levels, more perceived control, and less anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What environmental factors during childhood significantly associate with later health outcomes?

Parental SES, family composition, and rural or farm residence. Signup and view all the answers

Who researched socioeconomic disparities in health behaviors?

Pampel, Krueger, & Denney, 2010. Signup and view all the answers

What do the empirical studies show about SES and unhealthy behaviors?

An inverse relationship between SES and unhealthy behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social class differentials significantly influence health and mortality patterns across various populations, as highlighted by Elo in 2009.
Health inequalities related to social class have gained prominence, with progress made in documenting these disparities using diverse health measures.

Social class is often defined through indicators like socioeconomic status (SES), with educational attainment being a crucial factor.
There are various measures for social class, including education, occupation, income, and wealth.

Pervasive social class inequalities in health are well-established, yet the underlying factors driving these inequalities remain less understood.
High educational attainment is associated with longer life expectancy and better health outcomes, influencing both individual and child health through maternal education.

Role of Education

Education fosters "learned effectiveness," enabling individuals to improve their health by enhancing skills and resources.
Education influences health through psychosocial factors, including social support, stress accumulation, and coping mechanisms.

Impact of Occupation

Occupation as a measure of SES offers health protection due to greater perceived control and reduced exposure to workplace hazards in higher SES roles.
Higher occupational status correlates with lower stress levels, increased life control, and decreased anxiety.

Childhood SES

Early socioeconomic status impacts adult health significantly through the development of health behaviors and early health issues.
Better adult SES can mitigate some adverse effects associated with a disadvantaged childhood.

Recommendations for Research

It is recommended to investigate how education affects health across the lifespan, particularly how cumulative disadvantage might lead to earlier health deterioration.

SES and Health Mortality

Consistent associations exist between educational attainment and various health outcomes, making it a vital indicator for measuring health disparities.
Educational attainment may influence the timing of disease onset and an individual's ability to cope with stress and make lifestyle adjustments.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Health Behaviors

There is a well-documented inverse relationship between SES and unhealthy behaviors, such as tobacco use, inactivity, and poor nutrition, with various underlying causal mechanisms at play.

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Description

These flashcards cover the differentials in health and mortality linked to social class, emphasizing comparative perspectives based on Elo's 2009 study. They highlight the significance of documenting health inequalities across various contexts and measures.