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Patterns and causes of health inequalities in later life: A Bourdieusian approach

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  • McGovern, Pauline
  • Nazroo, James

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between social class and health change in older people in a path analysis, using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n=6241). Our path model includes both the occupational and secondary characteristics of objective social class that Bourdieu describes in Distinction (1979) as well as a measure of subjective social class. We investigate the direct, indirect and total effects of the predictors on change in three health outcomes (self-rated health; number of symptoms of depression; and number of difficulties with activities of daily living). The analysis adds to the body of Bourdieusian research by showing how the effects of objective social class on health are partially mediated by perceived social status. It also adds to substantive research on the relationship between class and health by suggesting that class-related health inequalities do persist for older people, even for those who are not in paid employment. It suggests that a large amount of the effect of occupation on the health of older people is not direct but indirect – through their personal wealth and lifestyle.

Suggested Citation

  • McGovern, Pauline & Nazroo, James, 2015. "Patterns and causes of health inequalities in later life: A Bourdieusian approach," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 14583, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:gpe:wpaper:14583
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    File URL: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/14583/2/14583_McGovern_Patterns_and_causes_of_health_%28Preprint%29_2015.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Singer, Leo, 2021. "Childhood circumstances shape multimorbidity and functional limitation in the old age in England: a life course pathway model," SocArXiv qhbx9, Center for Open Science.
    2. Rasmus Hoffmann & Hannes Kröger & Lasse Tarkiainen & Pekka Martikainen, 2019. "Dimensions of Social Stratification and Their Relation to Mortality: A Comparison Across Gender and Life Course Periods in Finland," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 349-365, August.
    3. Hoffmann, Rasmus & Kröger, Hannes & Tarkiainen, Lasse & Martikainen, Pekka, 2019. "Dimensions of Social Stratification and Their Relation to Mortality: A Comparison Across Gender and Life Course Periods in Finland," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 145(1), pages 349-365.
    4. James Nazroo, 2017. "Class and Health Inequality in Later Life: Patterns, Mechanisms and Implications for Policy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, December.
    5. Liqin Zhang & Lin Wu, 2021. "Effects of Environmental Quality Perception on Depression: Subjective Social Class as a Mediator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-14, June.

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