Health Inequality: An Introduction to Concepts, Theories and Methods, 2nd Edition - Softcover

Bartley, Mel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745691102 ISBN 13: 9780745691107

Publisher: Polity Press, 2016

Synopsis

At a time when social inequalities are increasing at an alarming rate, this new edition of Mel Bartley's popular book is a vital resource for understanding the extent of health inequalities and why they are proving to be persistent despite decades of growing knowledge and policies on the issue. As in the first edition, by examining influences of social class, income, culture and wealth as well as gender, ethnicity and other factors in identity, this accessible book provides a key to understanding the major theories and explanations of what lies behind inequality in health. Bartley re-situates the classic behavioural, psycho-social, and material approaches within a life-course perspective. Evaluating the evidence of health outcomes over time and at local and national levels, Bartley argues that individual social integration demands closer attention if health inequality is to be tackled effectively, revealing the important part that identity plays in relation to the chances of a long and healthy life. Health Inequality will be essential reading for students taking courses in the sociology of health and illness, social policy and welfare, health sciences, public health and epidemiology and all those interested in understanding the consequences of social inequality for health.

About this title

Review

"The new edition of Mel Bartleys excellent, well-written book should be relevant to anyone interested in understanding and addressing the persisting challenge of social inequalities in health. Congratulations on an inspiring, timely and critical contribution!"
Johannes Siegrist, Heinrich-Heine University D?sseldorf

"This new edition of Mel Bartleys classic book has the authoritative heft of one of the western worlds most respected medical sociologists. Her great personal depth of expertise comes across throughout the volume, and the book demonstrates a tight grasp of the conceptual and social theory issues that should underpin high-quality research into health inequalities. The books newly updated national and international data on health inequalities are especially welcome."
John Frank, University of Edinburgh

From the Back Cover

This book provides all you ever wanted to know about health inequality but did not dare to ask. We know from many studies that there are large differences in life expectancy between the most privileged and the most disadvantaged social groups in industrial societies. But we need to look beyond the figures to the social and biological processes that underlie them in order to understand why this is so. This book provides a key to understanding the four most widely accepted theories of what lies behind inequality in healthcare: behavioural, psychosocial, material and life-course approaches.

The methods most commonly employed by health inequality researchers are carefully explained in simple terms in a way that enables readers to judge for themselves how good the evidence is for each theory. It makes concepts and methods more widely available which can be applied to any area of study that seeks to take account of social and biological factors.

"Health Inequality" will be essential reading for students taking courses in the sociology of health and illness, social policy and welfare, health sciences, public health and epidemiology and all those interested in understanding the consequences of social inequality for health.

Edition details

• Publisher: Polity Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0745691102
• ISBN 13: 9780745691107
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 264