A Theoretical Perspective on Why Socioeconomic Health Inequalities Are Persistent: Building the Case for an Effective Approach

Lisa Wilderink, Ingrid Bakker, Albertine J. Schuit, Jacob C. Seidell, Ioana A. Pop and Carry M. Renders
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Lisa Wilderink: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ingrid Bakker: Department of Healthy Society, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, 8017 CA Zwolle, The Netherlands
Albertine J. Schuit: School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
Jacob C. Seidell: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ioana A. Pop: School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
Carry M. Renders: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Despite policy intentions and many interventions aimed at reducing socioeconomic health inequalities in recent decades in the Netherlands and other affluent countries, these inequalities have not been reduced. Based on a narrative literature review, this paper aims to increase insight into why socioeconomic health inequalities are so persistent and build a way forward for improved approaches from a theoretical perspective. Firstly, we present relevant theories focusing on individual determinants of health-related behaviors. Thereafter, we present theories that take into account determinants of the individual level and the environmental level. Lastly, we show the complexity of the system of individual determinants, environmental determinants and behavior change for low socioeconomic position (SEP) groups and describe the next steps in developing and evaluating future effective approaches. These steps include systems thinking, a complex whole-system approach and participation of all stakeholders in system change.

Keywords: socioeconomic health inequalities; narrative literature review; theoretical models; systems thinking; complex whole-system approach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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