• There are many different explanations of class and how they contribute to the understanding of major health inequalities between the working, middle and upper class.
• The main explanations include cultural/behavioural explanations, materialistic/structuralist explanations and psychosocial/social capital explanations of class.
• By understanding the explanations of class and its contribution to health inequality, the Australian government can understand which area of health its funding and research should focus on.
• For example, if the government understood that people of the lower class were adopting health deteriorating health behaviours such as smoking and alcohol consumption, it will focus its spending and research into areas such as …show more content…
(ABS, 2009)
BODY 2- CULTURAL/BEHAVIOURAL EXPLANATIONS OF CLASS
• Cultural and behavioural explanations of class are known to be a major determinant of death and disease rates and thus, overall health amongst the different classes. (Stringhini, 2010)
• The unhealthy behaviours of individuals in the lower class such as smoking, alcohol consumption, bad eating habits and the lack of physical activity contribute to undesirable health conditions and diseases, whereas individuals of the middle and upper class tend to adopt healthy behaviours such as eating nutritious foods and keeping fit through physical activity. (Stringhini, 2010)
• According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Health Survey (AHS) 2011-12, the daily smoking rate in areas with the lowest SES was 23%, which was more than double the areas with the highest SES, with the daily smoking rate at 10%. 22% of Australian adults in the lower SES consumed alcohol at dangerous rates, while the high SES people consumed at 17%. 66% of areas with the lowest SES were overweight and obese, compared to 59% of areas with the highest SES. (Health behaviours and other risks to health (AIHW), …show more content…
(Germov, 2014, p.92)
• Intense work conditions and unemployment are two ends of the spectrum that causes increases in the levels of stress, anxiety, insecurity, anger and depression in individuals in different social classes. (Germov, 2014, p.91)
• The lack of social capital amongst communities and societies lead to health damaging behaviours amongst certain groups such as the lower class. However, social capital leads to improved health conditions as it lowers stress levels and provides platforms for social connections. (Germov, 2014, p.92)
• These psychosocial and social capital explanations of class lead to negative impacts on health not only the lower class but also amongst the middle and higher class as they have intense work conditions and might not have as much social cohesion amongst society as the lower
• The main explanations include cultural/behavioural explanations, materialistic/structuralist explanations and psychosocial/social capital explanations of class.
• By understanding the explanations of class and its contribution to health inequality, the Australian government can understand which area of health its funding and research should focus on.
• For example, if the government understood that people of the lower class were adopting health deteriorating health behaviours such as smoking and alcohol consumption, it will focus its spending and research into areas such as …show more content…
(ABS, 2009)
BODY 2- CULTURAL/BEHAVIOURAL EXPLANATIONS OF CLASS
• Cultural and behavioural explanations of class are known to be a major determinant of death and disease rates and thus, overall health amongst the different classes. (Stringhini, 2010)
• The unhealthy behaviours of individuals in the lower class such as smoking, alcohol consumption, bad eating habits and the lack of physical activity contribute to undesirable health conditions and diseases, whereas individuals of the middle and upper class tend to adopt healthy behaviours such as eating nutritious foods and keeping fit through physical activity. (Stringhini, 2010)
• According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Health Survey (AHS) 2011-12, the daily smoking rate in areas with the lowest SES was 23%, which was more than double the areas with the highest SES, with the daily smoking rate at 10%. 22% of Australian adults in the lower SES consumed alcohol at dangerous rates, while the high SES people consumed at 17%. 66% of areas with the lowest SES were overweight and obese, compared to 59% of areas with the highest SES. (Health behaviours and other risks to health (AIHW), …show more content…
(Germov, 2014, p.92)
• Intense work conditions and unemployment are two ends of the spectrum that causes increases in the levels of stress, anxiety, insecurity, anger and depression in individuals in different social classes. (Germov, 2014, p.91)
• The lack of social capital amongst communities and societies lead to health damaging behaviours amongst certain groups such as the lower class. However, social capital leads to improved health conditions as it lowers stress levels and provides platforms for social connections. (Germov, 2014, p.92)
• These psychosocial and social capital explanations of class lead to negative impacts on health not only the lower class but also amongst the middle and higher class as they have intense work conditions and might not have as much social cohesion amongst society as the lower