Social gradient of Health

Question 1

What is the social gradient of health concerned with?

Answer 1

The social gradient concerns the distribution of health and well-being, i.e. the fact that inequalities in population health status are related to inequalities in social status.

Question 2

What happens to life expectancy the further one rises on the social ladder?

Answer 2

Life expectance is longer

Question 3

What effect does the cumulative effect of living in stressful economic and social circumstances have on people?

Answer 3

More physiological wear and tear and less likely to enjoy a healthy old age.

Question 4

What policy implications could address the issues that arise from being low down on the social gradient?

Answer 4

Safety nets and springboards to offset disadvantages, ideally at times of “critical transition” periods such as starting school, moving to secondary school, starting work, leaving home, starting a family, changing jobs, redundancy and retirement.

Question 5

How much more risk of serious illness and premature death do those lower down the social ladder face compared to those at the top?

Answer 5

Twice as much

Question 6

What does the social gradient in health reflect?

Answer 6

material disadvantage

Question 7

What are some of the material disadvantages experienced by those at the lower end of the social gradient?

Answer 7

Few family assets
Lack of education
Job type
Living in poor housing
Raising a family in poor circumstances