Fundamental Causes
What does SES stand for?
Socioeconomic status
What does mortality mean?
Death or rate of death in population
Which social class generally has higher illness and death rates?
Lower socioeconomic groups
A student works nights and misses medical appointments. What social factor matters?
Work schedule or employment conditions restricting healthcare access
Which is more upstream: treating asthma or reducing air pollution
Reducing air pollution
Name TWO flexible resources that can protect health
Any two: money, knowledge, power, prestige, beneficial social connections
What is social epidemiology concerned with?
How social conditions and group characteristics shape patterns of disease and death
What does morbidity mean?
Illness or the frequency of disease in a population
Two patients receive a new screening, but only one can afford follow-up care. What concept fits?
Unequal flexible resources / structural access barriers
Why might free community screening reduce inequality?
They reduce dependence on individual money, access, and ability to arange private care
Why can new medical treatments widen health inequalities?
People with more resources may gain access to new knowledge and treatments sooner or more easily
What is a social gradient in health?
Health trends to improve as socioeconomic position rises across the social hierarchy
What is general susceptibility to disease?
A proposed broad vulnerability to many illnesses associated with social and psychological environments
A neighborhood has polluted air and high stress. Why might multiple illnesses rise?
Both physical and psychosocial environments may contribute to broad disease vulnerability.
What is one policy that could reduce resource inequality?
Examples: housing assistance, minimum wage, parental leave, educational access
Name TWO of the four features of a fundamental cause
Any two: multiple diseases; multiple risk factors; flexible resources; persistence through replacement of mechanisms
Give ONE example of how racism can affect health
Example: segregation, unequal housing or employment opportunities, discrimination-related stress
Why do Syme and Berkman say limited healthcare is not a complete explanation?
They review studies where class differences persisted despite available care or treatment at the same facilities
A new expensive medication lowers overall deaths but widens the class gap. Explain.
The advantaged may benefit first or more fully, so overall health improves while inequality grows
Why is a complicated, expensive treatment at risk of increasing inequality?
It requires time, money, knowledge, and access that are unequally distributed
Why can health inequalities persist even after infectious diseases decline?
New risk factors and pathways replace old ones; unequal flexible resources continue to protect the advantaged groups
How does upstream explanation differ from an individual lifestyle explanation?
It focuses on social, political, economic, and environmental conditions producing risk, rather than only personal behavior
Name TWO areas the authors say need more research
Any two: lower-class subgroups; social vs physical environments; cause vs downward drift; psychological stress, coping, and social support
People with equal insurance still have different outcomes. Give TWO plausible social reasons.
Examples: chronic illness, housing conditions, work hazards, transportation, support networks, ability to follow treatment
Design one intervention that protects health without requiring individual action.
Examples: safe water, lead-paint removal, food safety inspection, air bags; accept a justfied population-wide intervention