Socioeconomic Status and Health Differentials in China: Convergence Or Divergence at Older Ages?
01 Jan 2009-
About: The article was published on 2009-01-01 and is currently open access. It has received 34 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Divergence.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: There is an asynchronous pattern in the onset of puberty among Chinese boys, with urban boys achieving pubertal milestones at an earlier age than rural peers except for G5.
Abstract: Aim: To provide up-to-date pubertal characteristics in a representative population of boys from both urban and rural areas of China. Subjects and methods: The China Puberty Research Collaboration enrolled 15 011 boys of Chinese Han ethnicity aged 6.0–18.9 years in eight regions including both urban and rural areas. Stages of genital and pubic hair development were assessed by trained physicians according to the Tanner method. Testicular volume was evaluated with a Prader orchidometer. Results: Median age for onset of testicular volume of 4 mL or greater was 11.02 years. Median age for onset of genital (G2), pubic hair development (PH2) and spermarche was 11.24 years, 12.67 years and 14.32 years, respectively. Boys with BMI ≥ 85th percentile reached the onset of TV ≥ 4 ml (11.09 years), G2 (11.34 years) and G3 (13.01 years) later than boys with a normal BMI (10.95 years, 11.1 years and 12.88 years, respectively). Urban boys achieved pubertal milestones at an earlier age than rural peers except for G5 (13.4...
30 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors explored the mediation effect of health promoting lifestyle on the relationship between Socioeconomic Status (SES) and depression, so as to provide practical reference for effectively preventing and alleviating depression of the older adults.
28 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper investigated the relationship between SES, SSS, and mental and physical health net of several covariates for 2,282 caregivers in Shanghai, China, and found that SES is linked to mental health outcomes, but in complicated ways.
Abstract: Objectives Although research has established a strong link between socioeconomic status (SES) and health in Western settings, comparable work in China lags behind. Similarly, studies showing a unique relationship for subjective social status (SSS) and health above and beyond SES have yet to be tested in China. The present study addresses these gaps. Methods Regression analyses investigated the relationship between SES, SSS, and mental and physical health net of several covariates for 2,282 caregivers in Shanghai, China. Indirect relationships for SES through SSS were also tested. Results Results indicate that SES is linked to mental and physical health outcomes, but in complicated ways. SSS, on the other hand, is consistently and robustly linked to health outcomes above and beyond income, education, occupational prestige, and Hukou status. Further significant indirect effects were found through SSS for income, education, and Hukou status. Conclusion In China's context of rapid economic growth, relationships to SES and health appear complicated. However, subjective perceptions of status are consistently linked to health outcomes.
25 citations
TL;DR: The socioeconomic differences in grip strength narrowed in older ages, especially among men, supporting the convergence of health inequality hypothesis and state-specific and subgroup level interventions are important to improve the physical functioning of the growing older population in India.
22 citations
Posted Content•
05 Nov 2014
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed a comprehensive framework to study the demographic transition, convergence and its linkage with health inequalities in India by assessing convergence not only in the averages, but also in absolute and relative inequalities in population and health indicators.
Abstract: This thesis comes out at a time when the debate on between-state and social group demographic and health inequalities continues to be largely debated based on most recent available information. However, analyses based on the recent demographic and health data have serious limitations in terms of understanding the true trajectories of between-state and social group inequalities. With the changing demographic scenario and most demographic indicators progressing towards the final stages of transition, the major concern in India has been heterogeneity across region and socioeconomic groups. While the demographic heterogeneity in India is well known, how far the differences are converging or diverging has been a matter of great interest. This study attempted to develop a comprehensive framework to study the demographic transition, convergence and its linkage with health inequalities in India. It advances the empirical examination of demographic convergence assessment by assessing convergence not only in the averages, but also in the absolute and relative inequalities in population and health indicators. The analyses foster that while economic variables are diverging, fertility variables are converging in recent years. Perhaps, it re-affirms the fact that fertility transition is not critically related to economic factors in India. The mortality convergence has some setbacks in recent years. The child health care utilization has shown converging although at a lesser magnitude. Moreover, fertility decline is associated with increasing in child health inequalities in a context where there are pre-existing socioeconomic inequalities. Inequality is often a consequence of progress. Not everyone gets rich at the same time, and not everyone gets immediate access to the latest life-saving measures. Further, growth, inequality, and catch up are the both sides of the same coin. The dark side is what happens when the process is hijacked, so that catch-up never comes. Powerful and wealthy elites have choked off demographic and health progress before, and they can do so again if they are allowed to undermine the institutions on which broad-based demographic and health progress depends. Now, it is confirmed from this study that a mere reduction in the number of children or fertility convergence in averages are not helping in distributing the fruits of demographic progress equally among the children of different states and socioeconomic groups. How far children and their development (particularly in terms of health) are faring during the progress of demographic transition is an important concern for population policy in India.
17 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: This work examines the growing number of studies of survey respondents' global self-ratings of health as predictors of mortality in longitudinal studies of representative community samples and suggests several approaches to the next stage of research in this field.
Abstract: We examine the growing number of studies of survey respondents' global self-ratings of health as predictors of mortality in longitudinal studies of representative community samples. Twenty-seven studies in U.S. and international journals show impressively consistent findings. Global self-rated health is an independent predictor of mortality in nearly all of the studies, despite the inclusion of numerous specific health status indicators and other relevant covariates known to predict mortality. We summarize and review these studies, consider various interpretations which could account for the association, and suggest several approaches to the next stage of research in this field.
7,940 citations
TL;DR: The psychosocial conditions and mechanisms underlying the Matthew effect are examined and a correlation between the redundancy function of multiple discoveries and the focalizing function of eminent men of science is found—a function which is reinforced by the great value these men place upon finding basic problems and by their self-assurance.
Abstract: This account of the Matthew effect is another small exercise in the psychosociological analysis of the workings of science as a social institution. The initial problem is transformed by a shift in theoretical perspective. As originally identified, the Matthew effect was construed in terms of enhancement of the position of already eminent scientists who are given disproportionate credit in cases of collaboration or of independent multiple discoveries. Its significance was thus confined to its implications for the reward system of science. By shifting the angle of vision, we note other possible kinds of consequences, this time for the communication system of science. The Matthew effect may serve to heighten the visibility of contributions to science by scientists of acknowledged standing and to reduce the visibility of contributions by authors who are less well known. We examine the psychosocial conditions and mechanisms underlying this effect and find a correlation between the redundancy function of multiple discoveries and the focalizing function of eminent men of science—a function which is reinforced by the great value these men place upon finding basic problems and by their self-assurance. This self-assurance, which is partly inherent, partly the result of experiences and associations in creative scientific environments, and partly a result of later social validation of their position, encourages them to search out risky but important problems and to highlight the results of their inquiry. A macrosocial version of the Matthew principle is apparently involved in those processes of social selection that currently lead to the concentration of scientific resources and talent ( 50 ).
5,689 citations
TL;DR: It is argued that social factors such as socioeconomic status and social support are likely 'fundamental causes" of disease that affect multiple disease outcomes through multiple mechanisms, and consequently maintain an association with disease even when intervening mechanisms change.
Abstract: Over the last several decades, epidemiological studies have been enormously
successful in identifying risk factors for major diseases However, most of this
research has focused attention on risk factors that are relatively proximal causes of
disease such as diet, cholesterol level, exercise and the like We question the
emphasis on such individually-based risk factors and argue that greater attention
must be paid to basic social conditions if health reform is to have its maximum
effect in the time ahead There are two reasons for this claim First we argue that
individually-based risk factors must be contextualized, by examining what puts
people at risk of risks, if we are to craft effective interventions and improve the
nation's health Second, we argue that social factors such as socioeconomic status
and social support are likely 'fundamental causes" of disease that, because they
embody access to important resources, affect multiple disease outcomes throughmultiple mechanisms, and consequently maintain an association with disease even when intervening mechanisms change Without careful attention to these
possibilities, we run the risk of imposing individually-based intervention strategies
that are ineffective and of missing opportunities to adopt broad-based societal
interventions that could produce substantial health benefits for our citizens
3,483 citations
Book•
01 Dec 1998
TL;DR: This publication examines this social gradient in health, and explains how psychological and social influences affect physical health and longevity, and looks at what is known about the most important social determinants of health today.
Abstract: Poorer people live shorter lives and are more often ill than the rich. This disparity has drawn attention to the remarkable sensitivity of health to the social environment. This publication examines this social gradient in health, and explains how psychological and social influences affect physical health and longevity. It then looks at what is known about the most important social determinants of health today, and the role that public policy can play in shaping a social environment that is more conducive to better health. This second edition relies on the most up-to-date sources in its selection and description of the main social determinants of health in our society today. Key research sources are given for each: stress, early life, social exclusion, working conditions, unemployment, social support, addiction, healthy food and transport policy. Policy and action for health need to address the social determinants of health, attacking the causes of ill health before they can lead to problems. This is a challenging task for both decision-makers and public health actors and advocates. This publication provides the facts and the policy options that will enable them to act.
2,594 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that high educational attainment improves health directly and it improves health indirectly through work and economic conditions, social-psychological resources, and health lifestyle.
Abstract: University of Illinois, Urbana The positive association between education and health is well established, but explanations for this association are not. Our explanations fall into three categories: (1) work and economic conditions, (2) social-psychological resources, and (3) health lifestyle. We replicate analyses with two samples, cross-sectionally and over time, using two health measures (self-reported health and physical functioning). The first data set comes from a national probability sample of U.S. households in which respondents were interviewed by telephone in 1990 (2,031 respondents, ages 18 to 90). The second data set comes from a national probability sample of U.S. households in which respondents ages 20 to 64 were interviewed by telephone first in 1979 (3,025 respondents), and then again in 1980 (2,436 respondents). Results demonstrate a positive association between education and health and help explain why the association exists. (1) Compared to the poorly educated, well educated respondents are less likely to be unemployed, are more likely to work full-time, to have fulfilling, subjectively rewarding jobs, high incomes, and low economic hardship. Full-time work, fulfilling work, high income, and low economic hardship in turn significantly improve health in all analyses. (2) The well educated report a greater sense of control over their lives and their health, and they have higher levels of social support. The sense of control, and to a lesser extent support, are associated with good health. (3) The well educated are less likely to smoke, are more likely to exercise, to get health check-ups, and to drink moderately, all of which, except check-ups, are associated with good health. We conclude that high educational attainment improves health directly, and it improves health indirectly through work and economic conditions, social-psychological resources, and health lifestyle. he positive association between education and health is well established, but explanations for this association are not. Well educated people experience better health than the poorly educated, as indicated by high levels of self-reported health and physical functioning and low levels of morbidity, mortality, and disability. In contrast, low educational attainment is associated with high rates of infectious disease, many chronic noninfectious diseases, self-reported poor health, shorter survival when sick, and shorter life expectancy (Feldman, Makuc, Kleinman, and Cornoni-Huntley 1989; Guralnik, Land, Fillenbaum, and Branch 1993; Gutzwiller, LaVecchia, Levi, Negri, and Wietlisbach 1989; Kaplan, Haan, and Syme 1987; Kitagawa and Hauser 1973; Liu, Cedres, and Stamler 1982; Morris 1990; Pappas, Queen,
1,747 citations