SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH

Sociology of Health

Abstract

The research on health inequality in class elucidates the sociological, psycho-sociological, material and behavioral factors determining the health inequality and health outcomes in lower, middle and upper class by analyzing the mortality rates and health outcomes.

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Research3

Literature Review3

Methodology and analysis4

Results6

Conclusion7

Sociology of Health

Introduction

The comprehensive understanding, interpretation, and analysis of sociological concepts and theories relating to the health inequality in class are studied in detail. The health outcomes elucidate the sociological, material, psycho-social, and cultural factors determining the difference in treatment of health services (Steinbach, 2009, pp 2).

Research

Literature Review

The term class includes elements of wealth, status, employment, background and culture. The relationship between the health inequality and class is an intricate process, influencing health discrepancies and health outcomes. The multilevel analysis of health inequality by interpreting different factors markedly reveals health differences in different classes (upper, middle and lower class). According to one research, in spite of advancement and discoveries in the treatment and detection of cancer, the inequality in the rates of cancer mortality are highly associated with social class (White, et al, 2010, pp 28-56).

According to Edwin Chadwick in his report on “the Sanitary Conditions of the Laboring Population of Great Britain" in 1842, the average death age in UK, was 35 for upper class and only 15 for lower class including servants, mechanics and laborers.

The previous researches in 19960-1990, the impacts of social class on health inequalities focused on status or income differentials and rendered class exploitation issues. This transfer in economic focus caused the socioeconomic construct (SES) to be the basic theoretical framework for analyzing the health inequalities in class. In the 20th century, inquiries on occupations led to a better analysis of health inequalities using the health outcomes by five class scheme created by Registrar Generals Social Class (RGSC) in 1911. According to Decennial Supplement of occupational Mortality in 1970-1972 in UK, revealed that men in class 5 or unskilled occupations (unskilled) had 2.5 times more chances to die at age 65 than the ones belonging to class 1 or the professional occupation and children of poor or class V families had two times more chances to die than those belonging to upper class (Steinbach, R., 2009, pp 2).

Methodology and analysis

The four models can help us understand the health inequalities in the treatment and provision of health services in class include behavioral model (such as substance abuse, dietary choices, exercise etc), materialistic model (such as exposure to health hazards due to poverty), psychosocial model (relating to impact of social inequality on emotions and then consequently on health) and life course model (i.e. health reflecting psycho-social and biological advantages and disadvantages). The health equalities in death is measured by analyzing and interpreting mortality rates, life expectancy, infant deaths, disability and morbidity (Steinbach, 2009, pp 2).

The behavior such as smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, and diet can damage or improve the health outcomes are well agreed upon by scientists and ...