Influence of social Institutions on CLASS BASED health inequalities

Running Header: Influence of social Institutions on CLASS BASED health inequalities
Influence of social Institutions on CLASS BASED health inequalities
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Introduction

Influence of social Institutions on CLASS BASED health inequalities
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Social Institutions refers to groups of persons who have come together with a common
goal. The major social institutions influencing people include: religion, family, economic,
education and political. A class can be defined as a sociological indicator of unequal distribution
of power and wealth across social structure. On the other hand, health inequalities can be defined
as avoidable and unjust differences across the population which affect peopleś health. This paper
will describe the influence of social institutions on class-based health inequalities. Firstly, the
paper will describe the sociological factors leading to class-based health inequality. Secondly,
the paper will discuss how sociological class model influence class-based health inequality.
Thirdly, the paper will describe sociological theories related to class-based health inequalities.
Finally, there will be an explanation on how to end sociological class-based health inequality.
Sociological factors leading to class-based health inequalities.
Sociological factors such as political, economic, and social factors have an influence on
the distribution of illness and health. This focuses on how poor working and living conditions
particularly inadequate nutrition, housing, employment opportunities, lack of education,
discrimination and poverty directly influence illness. Class analysis is used to address health
inequalities by analyzing the roles played by unemployment and employment. Employment may
have both negative and positive impact on health depending on the nature of employment. Those
employee working in the mining industry have high occupational morbidity and mortality rates
due to high risks associated with their work. Unemployment also has health consequences among
them high rates of chronic illness. Class analysis and structural approaches can be used to
describe how prescription of policy based on social factors for example welfare measure to
address the promotion of health-inducing work, improve workplace safety and poverty. Lack of

Influence of social Institutions on CLASS BASED health inequalities
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social capital and psychosocial factors are linked to increased class-based health inequality in
developing countries (Layte & Whelan, 2014).
The social capital thesis
Social capital refers to networks and social relations that exist among communities and
social groups and provide access to opportunities and resources for mutual benefits. Social
capital depends on an expectation of reciprocity, trust, altruism and the level of community
participation. Access to social capital improves health outcome through the provision of social
interaction and lowering stress through democratic participation in community life (Tester,
2013).
According to Kirkpatrick (2016), social capital is not a property of an individual but
rather a community property. It involves both the community and state interplay by fostering
anxiety and insecurity. Majority of studies have not addressed the influence of social capital
though union involvement is a collective action and is evidence of democratic participation and
social cohesion in community life. Social capital as a sociological factor has an influence on
class-based health inequality by focusing on capital as a prerequisite for unemployment and
poverty in the community. Access to social institutions for example education, social services,
and employment opportunities provide better conditions of health-enhancing environments and
social capital.
The social gradient of health
The social gradient of health focuses on psychosocial factors and incomes inequality.
Increased levels of depression, anger, insecurity, anxiety, and stress in the community are
associated with widening income inequality. This negatively impacts health outcomes among
both those who experience the inequalities and the poor in the community. According to the

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social gradient of health, level up of employment improves health standards according to public
service hierarchy. The social gradient of health affect all levels of people regardless of their
class. This includes white collar workers, relatively well-paid workers and the poor are all
affected by the social gradient of health. Even though there is a health gap between the poor and
the wealthy, there is a graded relationship between each step up and health on socioeconomic
hierarchy thereby health standards improving the higher you go along social hierarchy
(Theodossiou & Zangelidis, 2009).
Health inequality among social classes focuses particularly on socioeconomically
disadvantaged groups. People ́s health gradually deteriorates as you go down the social
hierarchy. This means that every social class has a different health status and the higher you go
across the class, the better the health standards. Class-based health inequalities are linked to
poorer health regardless of employment status. Both the working class and poor all experience
health inequality across social hierarchy (Vallgårda, 2008).
Social Structure
Social style of life reinforced and associated with the class is characterized by the
behavior of people within the community and their impact on health outcomes. Working class
individuals are associated with some health-related behaviors such as smoking. There is a
complex interrelationship between behavior, social structure, and culture. This results in a close
link between ill health or health inequality and class among social groups (Eckersley, 2015).
Sociological class model
The sociological analysis focuses on factors that reproduce and produce class differences.
There are three class models which are based on Weberian and Marxist consisting of working
class, middle class, and upper class. Among the characteristics which define these classes