IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i14p8384-d858889.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Theoretical Perspective on Why Socioeconomic Health Inequalities Are Persistent: Building the Case for an Effective Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Lisa Wilderink

    (Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Department of Healthy Society, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands)

  • Ingrid Bakker

    (Department of Healthy Society, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands)

  • Albertine J. Schuit

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Jacob C. Seidell

    (Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Ioana A. Pop

    (School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Carry M. Renders

    (Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Department of Healthy Society, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Despite policy intentions and many interventions aimed at reducing socioeconomic health inequalities in recent decades in the Netherlands and other affluent countries, these inequalities have not been reduced. Based on a narrative literature review, this paper aims to increase insight into why socioeconomic health inequalities are so persistent and build a way forward for improved approaches from a theoretical perspective. Firstly, we present relevant theories focusing on individual determinants of health-related behaviors. Thereafter, we present theories that take into account determinants of the individual level and the environmental level. Lastly, we show the complexity of the system of individual determinants, environmental determinants and behavior change for low socioeconomic position (SEP) groups and describe the next steps in developing and evaluating future effective approaches. These steps include systems thinking, a complex whole-system approach and participation of all stakeholders in system change.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Wilderink & Ingrid Bakker & Albertine J. Schuit & Jacob C. Seidell & Ioana A. Pop & Carry M. Renders, 2022. "A Theoretical Perspective on Why Socioeconomic Health Inequalities Are Persistent: Building the Case for an Effective Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8384-:d:858889
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8384/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/14/8384/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Carlijn B M Kamphuis & Tessa Jansen & Johan P Mackenbach & Frank J van Lenthe, 2015. "Bourdieu’s Cultural Capital in Relation to Food Choices: A Systematic Review of Cultural Capital Indicators and an Empirical Proof of Concept," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Perkins, Jessica M. & Subramanian, S.V. & Christakis, Nicholas A., 2015. "Social networks and health: A systematic review of sociocentric network studies in low- and middle-income countries," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 60-78.
    3. Andreas Vilhelmsson & Per-Olof Östergren, 2018. "Reducing health inequalities with interventions targeting behavioral factors among individuals with low levels of education - A rapid review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Lindström, Martin & Hanson, Bertil S. & Östergren, Per-Olof, 2001. "Socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity: the role of social participation and social capital in shaping health related behaviour," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 441-451, February.
    5. Lisa Wilderink & Ingrid Bakker & Albertine J. Schuit & Jacob C. Seidell & Carry M. Renders, 2021. "Involving Children in Creating a Healthy Environment in Low Socioeconomic Position (SEP) Neighborhoods in The Netherlands: A Participatory Action Research (PAR) Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-16, November.
    6. Manou Anselma & Mai Chinapaw & Teatske Altenburg, 2020. "“Not Only Adults Can Make Good Decisions, We as Children Can Do That as Well” Evaluating the Process of the Youth-Led Participatory Action Research ‘Kids in Action’," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-24, January.
    7. Bernard, Paul & Charafeddine, Rana & Frohlich, Katherine L. & Daniel, Mark & Kestens, Yan & Potvin, Louise, 2007. "Health inequalities and place: A theoretical conception of neighbourhood," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1839-1852, November.
    8. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10510 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xavier Perafita & Marc Saez, 2023. "Housing Supply and How It Is Related to Social Inequalities—Air Pollution, Green Spaces, Crime Levels, and Poor Areas—In Catalonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-24, April.
    2. Remco Kort & Koen Arts & Josep M. Antó & Matty P. Berg & Gabrielle Cepella & Jennifer Cole & Amarylle van Doorn & Tomás van Gorp & Milo Grootjen & Joyeeta Gupta & Colin Hill & Eva van der Heide & Jef , 2023. "Outcomes from the First European Planetary Health Congress at ARTIS in Amsterdam," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-30, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Spielman, Seth E. & Yoo, Eun-hye, 2009. "The spatial dimensions of neighborhood effects," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(6), pages 1098-1105, March.
    2. Björkegren, Daniel & Karaca, Burak Ceyhun, 2022. "Network adoption subsidies: A digital evaluation of a rural mobile phone program in Rwanda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    3. Garthwaite, Kayleigh & Bambra, Clare, 2017. "“How the other half live”: Lay perspectives on health inequalities in an age of austerity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 268-275.
    4. McNeill, Lorna Haughton & Kreuter, Matthew W. & Subramanian, S.V., 2006. "Social Environment and Physical activity: A review of concepts and evidence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 1011-1022, August.
    5. Simone Becker, 2011. "Der Einfluss der Gesundheitszufriedenheit auf die Sportaktivität: eine empirische Längsschnittanalyse mit den Daten des sozio-oekonomischen Panels," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 400, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    6. Ball, Kylie & Cleland, Verity J. & Timperio, Anna F. & Salmon, Jo & Giles-Corti, Billie & Crawford, David A., 2010. "Love thy neighbour? Associations of social capital and crime with physical activity amongst women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(4), pages 807-814, August.
    7. Decataldo, Alessandra & Fiore, Brunella, 2018. "Is eating in the school canteen better to fight overweight? A sociological observational study on nutrition in Italian children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 246-256.
    8. Levasseur, Mélanie & Richard, Lucie & Gauvin, Lise & Raymond, Émilie, 2010. "Inventory and analysis of definitions of social participation found in the aging literature: Proposed taxonomy of social activities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(12), pages 2141-2149, December.
    9. Steffen Andreas Schüle & Gabriele Bolte, 2015. "Interactive and Independent Associations between the Socioeconomic and Objective Built Environment on the Neighbourhood Level and Individual Health: A Systematic Review of Multilevel Studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-31, April.
    10. María Laura Alzúa & Habiba Djebbari & Amy J. Pickering, 2020. "A Community-Based Program Promotes Sanitation," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 68(2), pages 357-390.
    11. Stephanie A. Prince & Elizabeth A. Kristjansson & Katherine Russell & Jean-Michel Billette & Michael Sawada & Amira Ali & Mark S. Tremblay & Denis Prud’homme, 2011. "A Multilevel Analysis of Neighbourhood Built and Social Environments and Adult Self-Reported Physical Activity and Body Mass Index in Ottawa, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-26, October.
    12. Johannes Flacke & Steffen Andreas Schüle & Heike Köckler & Gabriele Bolte, 2016. "Mapping Environmental Inequalities Relevant for Health for Informing Urban Planning Interventions—A Case Study in the City of Dortmund, Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, July.
    13. Haenssgen, Marco J. & Charoenboon, Nutcha & Zanello, Giacomo, 2021. "You’ve got a friend in me: How social networks and mobile phones facilitate healthcare access among marginalised groups in rural Thailand and Lao PDR," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    14. Roxana Rodríguez-Franco & Edson Serván-Mori & Octavio Gómez-Dantés & David Contreras-Loya & Carlos Pineda-Antúnez, 2018. "Old principles, persisting challenges: Maternal health care market alignment in Mexico in the search for UHC," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, July.
    15. Koschinsky, Julia, 2013. "The case for spatial analysis in evaluation to reduce health inequities," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 172-176.
    16. Camille Le Gal & Michael J. Dale & Margaret Cargo & Mark Daniel, 2020. "Built Environments and Cardiometabolic Morbidity and Mortality in Remote Indigenous Communities in the Northern Territory, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-9, January.
    17. Hannah Tappis & Anis Kazi & Waqas Hameed & Zaib Dahar & Anayat Ali & Sohail Agha, 2015. "The Role of Quality Health Services and Discussion about Birth Spacing in Postpartum Contraceptive Use in Sindh, Pakistan: A Multilevel Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, October.
    18. Zhang, Licheng & Wang, Hong & Wang, Lushang & Hsiao, William, 2006. "Social capital and farmer's willingness-to-join a newly established community-based health insurance in rural China," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 233-242, April.
    19. Schultz, Jennifer & O'Brien, A. Maureen & Tadesse, Bedassa, 2008. "Social capital and self-rated health: Results from the US 2006 social capital survey of one community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 606-617, August.
    20. Nádia Simões & Nuno Crespo & Sandrina B. Moreira & Celeste A. Varum, 2016. "Measurement and determinants of health poverty and richness: evidence from Portugal," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1331-1358, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8384-:d:858889. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.