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.
Signup and view all the answers
Promising new research approaches include those that employ a ________________ perspective in the study of health inequalities.
Signup and view all the answers
How do social class inequalities lead to health inequalities?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one significant indicator of socioeconomic status?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'learned effectiveness' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
How does education influence health according to Elo 2009?
Signup and view all the answers
What protective effects does occupation have on health in the context of socioeconomic status?
Signup and view all the answers
How does childhood socioeconomic status impact adult health?
Signup and view all the answers
What does Elo 2009 recommend for examining health impacts?
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.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of educational attainment regarding disease onset?
Signup and view all the answers
The association between education and health is partly mediated by __________ and __________.
Signup and view all the answers
What does higher occupational status lead to in terms of health-related factors?
Signup and view all the answers
What environmental factors during childhood significantly associate with later health outcomes?
Signup and view all the answers
Who researched socioeconomic disparities in health behaviors?
Signup and view all the answers
What do the empirical studies show about SES and unhealthy behaviors?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Social Class and Health
- 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.
Measures of Social Class
- 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.
Health Outcomes and Social Class
- 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.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
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.
