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

Pauline McGovern and James Nazroo

No 14583, Greenwich Papers in Political Economy from University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre

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.

Keywords: Health; Objective class; Subjective class; Lifestyle; Longitudinal path analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015-01-20
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published in Sociology of Health & Illness 1.37(2015): pp. 143-160

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gpe:wpaper:14583

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