Health as a socially mediated process: theoretical and practice imperatives emerging from research on health inequalities.
Population-based studies on health disparities provide compelling evidence that inequities in health status over the life course accrue from social conditions. Our knowledge of how such conditions exert their effect on health, however, is limited. An examination of explanations for health disparities shows that a theoretical perspective that enables the exploration of the links between broader social processes (macro) and experience (micro) would offer valuable insights for practice. This article introduces a theoretical perspective informed by Bourdieu and Smith that has been used to undertake such an analysis and that opens up possibilities for new practice forums and foci.
Lynam
M Judith
MJ
Culture, Gender and Health Research Unit, University of British Columbia School of Nursing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. lynam@nursing.ubc.ca
D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D012929:Psychological Distance; D044469:Racial Groups; D012924:Social Conditions; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012962:Sociology, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*