‘It All Kind of Links Really’: Young People’s Perspectives on the Relationship between Socioeconomic Circumstances and Health

Hannah Fairbrother, Nicholas Woodrow, Mary Crowder, Eleanor Holding, Naomi Griffin, Vanessa Er, Caroline Dodd-Reynolds, Matt Egan, Karen Lock, Steph Scott, Carolyn Summerbell, Rachael McKeown, Emma Rigby, Phillippa Kyle and Elizabeth Goyder
Additional contact information
Hannah Fairbrother: Health Sciences School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2LA, UK
Nicholas Woodrow: ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Mary Crowder: ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Eleanor Holding: ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK
Naomi Griffin: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Fuse|Durham University, Durham DH1 3HN, UK
Vanessa Er: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Caroline Dodd-Reynolds: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Fuse|Durham University, Durham DH1 3HN, UK
Matt Egan: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Karen Lock: Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
Steph Scott: Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK
Carolyn Summerbell: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Fuse|Durham University, Durham DH1 3HN, UK
Rachael McKeown: Association for Young People’s Health, London SE1 4YR, UK
Emma Rigby: Association for Young People’s Health, London SE1 4YR, UK
Phillippa Kyle: Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Fuse|Durham University, Durham DH1 3HN, UK
Elizabeth Goyder: ScHARR, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: Meaningful inclusion of young people’s perceptions and experiences of inequalities is argued to be critical in the development of pro-equity policies. Our study explored young people’s perceptions of what influences their opportunities to be healthy within their local area and their understandings of health inequalities. Three interlinked qualitative focus group discussions, each lasting 90 to 100 min, with the same six groups of young people ( n = 42) aged 13–21, were conducted between February and June 2021. Participants were recruited from six youth groups in areas of high deprivation across three geographical locations in England (South Yorkshire, the North East and London). Our study demonstrates that young people understand that health inequalities are generated by social determinants of health, which in turn influence behaviours. They highlight a complex interweaving of pathways between social determinants and health outcomes. However, they do not tend to think in terms of the social determinants and their distribution as resulting from the power and influence of those who create and benefit from health and social inequalities. An informed understanding of the causes of health inequalities, influenced by their own unique generational experiences, is important to help young people contribute to the development of pro-equity policies of the future.

Keywords: health inequalities; social inequalities; social determinants of health; young people; qualitative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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