Socioeconomic And Social Class And Health - 1489 Words

This essay will discuss ways in which a person’s socioeconomic class and his/her social situation can have an impact on his/her health, using examples. We believe that there is a direct link between socioeconomic/social class and health (Adler et al. 1994). I will be defining the key terms: socioeconomic and health, social class then proceed to discuss about how poverty, income, employability, environment and housing can impact on a person’s social situation and their health. Socioeconomic status is a term used to weigh up a person’s/family social and economic standing. This status is determined by factors such as income, education, occupation and social environment (Leary, 2007). A person’s socioeconomic status can fluctuate over time depending on the person improving their life choices or by making poor life choices. The World Health Organisation defined health: â€Å"State of complete physical and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity† (WHO, 1946 p.100). Many factors influence health such as family traits, behaviours, access to quality healthcare and environment (quality of air, bad/good water and housing conditions) (WHO, 1946). The holistic view of health combines the mind (mental), body (physical), emotional and spiritual elements to a person (Ewes Simnett, 2003). British society is split into hierarchical categories with â€Å"higher† â€Å"middle† and â€Å"lower working† class. The British class structure is shaped like a pyramid cut into threeShow MoreRelatedSocial Class And Its Effects On Health1336 Words   |  6 PagesAll over the world status hierarchy and social class are a common concept of how well we live our lives, however they affect our lives more than we think. Social class can affect many things such as education, opportunities presented to us, economic factors, and even our health. Recently socioeconomic status effects on health has become a more popular topic of discussion but is nothing new to researchers. â€Å"Research on socioeconomic inequalities in health in the UK has a long history. In the earlyRead MoreSocioeconomic Inequality Of The United States882 Words   |  4 PagesThose who live in poverty experience worse health care, education, social status, and wages than the upper class. I believe socioeconomic status serves a large role in whether an individual is likely to experience poor health. Policies that increase unemployment insurance or allocate for equal distribution of wealth and opportunity are viable solutions to socioeconomic inequality (Babones 2010:141). The social conflict theory best explains the socioeconomic inequality in the United States and helpsRead MoreThe Top On America Isn t Just Better, It s Longer News Article764 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual’s socioeconomic status. As we have learned and discussed in Chapter three of the text, socioeconomic status (or social class) is an individual’s or group’s standing within a ranked social structure. This socioeconomic status is typically determined by three main variables such as income, occupational prestige, and education. Different models of the social class ladder exist. The five-class model used in the United States is as follows: upper class, upper-middle class, lower-middle cl ass, workingRead MoreThe Social Determinants Of Health And Health898 Words   |  4 PagesMental health outcomes vary differently by socioeconomic location for women and men. It is important to critically analyze the various social locations that low-income women living with mental health concerns are currently occupying. These women are occupying these social locations because of the structural inequities that they encounter in relation to their experiences with the social determinants of health. Explanatory frameworks are used to illustrate the relationship between the social determinantsRead MoreEffects Of Low Socioeconomic Status On Mental Health1440 Words   |  6 Pageslinked socioeconomic status to mental health, especially in children and adolescents. Low poverty levels have been specifically identified as a key causal factor in developing mental health problems in children. There has been much discussion over the different theories as to why this is the case, but only two of these theories seem to hold a lot of evidence. Certain interventions and preventative measures can be employed in order to improve an individual’s mental health by altering socioeconomic statusRead MoreThe Conflict And Functionalist Theories Behind Social Class1496 Words   |  6 Pagesmaterializes the upper class, vulgarizes our middle class, brutalizes our lower class. In Australia, social class is a widely recognised concept, however some individuals, particularly the wealthy people, will argue that social class in non existent, that with hard work anyone can achieve, what they set their mind onto. The social stratification system, is based on objective criteria, including wealth, power, and prestige. The Australian notion of equal opportunity, insinuates that social class does not affectRead MoreSocial Inequality1011 Words   |  5 PagesSection I - Dimensions of Social Inequality Begin by identifying yourself on the dimensions commonly associated with social inequalities: social class (income, wealth, (current and intended) education level, occupational prestige (associated with current or planned career), race, ethnicity, and gender. In addition, you might also identify yourself on dimensions associated with less traditional inequalities, such as national origin,, sexual identity or preference, age, weight, able-bodiedness, andRead More The Effect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and Health824 Words   |  4 PagesEffect of Social Organization on Everyday Life and Health Most people do not think about their health or issues revolving around their health until they are actually ill or people think that their health is only affected by biological factors. However, our health should be a focus in our lives because our daily life has an affect on our health. Illness does not only have biological causes but is also influenced by social factors such as the socially imposed roles of gender and socioeconomic differencesRead MoreDrug Addiction And Socioeconomic Status1467 Words   |  6 Pages Drug Addiction and Socioeconomic Status Noah Rewis Desert Vista High School Author’s Note This literature review was written for Mrs. Boggs Advanced Composition class Abstract Drug addiction has historically been associated with impoverished minorities. However, in recent years, drug addiction has spiked amongst the suburban middle class. While this is obviously an issue, the reasons behind drug addiction are still not entirely unclear, making responding to addiction crises difficultRead MoreRace, Class, and the Social Determinants of Health629 Words   |  3 Pagesreasons, it is easier for the monied classes to access quality health care when needed and, in general, lead healthier lifestyles. People of higher socioeconomic groups have been shown to live longer (Scrambler, 2012). Beginning with higher infant mortality rates, lower socioeconomic groups often face a lifetime of challenges to good health and longevity. David and Messer (2011) reported on a study by the National Institutes of Health that revealed the rate of infant mortality among African American