Is there a link between social class and health?

Answer 1

Yes you will find that the working classes have always had a poorer record as the lack of income usually leads to a poor diet

Answer 2

Yep read any text book on the Sociology of health and you will find the link. Basically the lower the socio economic class the worst the health - there is for example something like a six year life expectancy difference between someone in class one (top executive, managerial, professional) and someone in class five (unskilled manual worker/ unemployed). This is the case whether healthcare is paid for or free - the general health of a person does not depend on availability of drugs but on quality of housing, mental well being and so many other factors that have very little to do with doctors.

There is an interesting report - referred to in this article http://society.guardian.co.uk/publichealth/story/0,,588252,00.html - which notes that for every stop on the Jubilee line (undergound railway in London) East from Westminster the average life expectancy declines by a year. Whilst this a very crude statistic it does indicate the prevailing nature of health inequalities.

Similarly big comparison studies between England and Soctland and Wales indicates that people in Scotland and Wales are more unhealthy than in England - this is because there are a greater proportion of lower income, lower class people in Scotland and Wales compared to England.

There are tonnes of studies available like the one referred to above - check out your library.

Answer 3

always. But it seems to be changing....sort of. Back in the 17/1800's gluttony was the word used to describe the wealthy. But they weren't in any better health than than the poorer. Sure, they probably got better treatment when they got sick but back then there wasn't many cures. The wealthy may have had more food than the poor but because of their gluttonous ways it usually led to more illnesses (gout, obesity, heart failure) whereas the disadvantage for the poor was that they probably didn't have the equipment or clean environment for when they were in bad health. Even today..its weird because it takes a rich person to live off a third world diet. (organic, whole, real foods) Wealthy people today have the money to be healthy, (still gluttonous) but they don't always have the common sense. Look at all these celebrites nowadays, ending up in rehab for alcohol/drug/food addictions...they're anything but the picture of health and all the money in the world isn't helping them. And yet the middle class (which is the average what north american is) finds it difficult to live healthy (whether that means signing up for a gym...purchasing organic food, trying alternative therapies etc..) and they;re living off basically garbage (food -wise) because they think they can't afford it..when really, I think we can. grow your own food, exercise outdoors or in your own home..its possible (and I know several people who are not even close to being rich, but are living the fullest and healthies lives) So..ya theres a connection between social class and health but theres no need for it I think

Answer 4

Yes. My in-laws are second generation immegrants, and were farmers. They lived an hour from a town. In those days you didn't just zip to town for groceries. And you worked long hours. There were times when they were hungry. My husband and his younger sister went out to shine (hunting deer by shining a flashlight in it's eyes so it will stand still to be shot) deer when they really needed something.
They had huge gardens, but still, when you're really hungry, vegetables don't fill you up. Meat is your first choice, carbs is your second choice. When you're really hungy, you don't eat salad. You eat the macaroni.
And even if in later years you have enough to eat, that pattren will stay with you.
Ppl with lower income will tend to be overweight. They substitute food for fun. Low income doesn't leave room for fun money, and if there is money spent on fun, it'll be TV. Not an active fun. Besdies, if you work hard for a living, physical work, when you come home you don't want to walk. Or bycycle, or. . . . You want to sit.
So, between actually being hungry, needing filling food, and not being able to spend money on active fun, yes I think it precludes low income ppl to be overweight.
My husband still likes mac n cheese. It was a filling meal when he was hungry as a child. It has good memories for him.

Answer 5

Yes most definitely think about it if you have more income you can provide better health care for your self and your family. You can afford to buy your family good produce instead of Romain Noodles and Easy mac. You can afford daily vitamins to serve as preventive measures against sickness instead of medicine if you can afford medicine when they get sick. How many times have there been people who need desperately to go to the doctor but have no insurance and they can't afford it. OR they cut thier prescriptions in half to make them last longer but thier not as effective. Increasing expendable income is the only way to truly combat this problem.

Answer 6

People who are of a poorer income or the working class can't pay for bills or all the procedures they need sometimes unless they have insurance. I assume rich people really don't need to worry about the bills and can get whatever their doctor advises they need whenever they want. Also rich people can spend money on fancy gym fees, they can buy whatever vitamins and get whatever surgery. And stress makes you sick the lower class is obviously more stressed since they have to worry about money more.

Answer 7

Yes. If you link social class to income.

Answer 8

Of course. With all the healthcare reform these days, alot of working class people don't have health insurance and therefore don't get regular checkups. Of course if you don't work at all, then the state will pay for everything and encourage you to continue doing nothing....

Answer 9

Having a naturally strong constitution is genetic and not neccesarily anything to do with wealth. Where wealth comes in is better living conditions better fod (I'm talking about good standard not McD or KFC all the time) also wealth helps to obtain or keep a more healthy job if that is what is needed. Also wealth can afford better medical attention or mefical attention when needed. Also wealth gives more opportunity for clealiness. Poverty can mean no water or means of cleaning yourself

Answer 10

Low social classes cannot afford medical help and often have low education, making them not aware of hazards and illnesses. The upper class can afford medical care.