Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://hdl.handle.net/2440/67231
Citations | ||
Scopus | Web of Science® | Altmetric |
---|---|---|
?
|
?
|
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Complex problems require complex solutions: the utility of social quality theory for addressing the social determinants of health |
Author: | Ward, P. Meyer, S. Verity, F. Gill, T. Luong, T. |
Citation: | BMC Public Health, 2011; 11(1):630-1-630-9 |
Publisher: | BioMed Central Ltd. |
Issue Date: | 2011 |
ISSN: | 1471-2458 1471-2458 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Paul R Ward, Samantha B Meyer, Fiona Verity, Tiffany K Gill and Tini CN Luong |
Abstract: | Background: In order to improve the health of the most vulnerable groups in society, the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) called for multi-sectoral action, which requires research and policy on the multiple and inter-linking factors shaping health outcomes. Most conceptual tools available to researchers tend to focus on singular and specific social determinants of health (SDH) (e.g. social capital, empowerment, social inclusion). However, a new and innovative conceptual framework, known as social quality theory, facilitates a more complex and complete understanding of the SDH, with its focus on four domains: social cohesion, social inclusion, social empowerment and socioeconomic security, all within the same conceptual framework. This paper provides both an overview of social quality theory in addition to findings from a national survey of social quality in Australia, as a means of demonstrating the operationalisation of the theory. Methods: Data were collected using a national random postal survey of 1044 respondents in September, 2009. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that people on lower incomes (less than $45000) experience worse social quality across all of the four domains: lower socio-economic security, lower levels of membership of organisations (lower social cohesion), higher levels of discrimination and less political action (lower social inclusion) and lower social empowerment. The findings were mixed in terms of age, with people over 65 years experiencing lower socio-economic security, but having higher levels of social cohesion, experiencing lower levels of discrimination (higher social inclusion) and engaging in more political action (higher social empowerment). In terms of gender, women had higher social cohesion than men, although also experienced more discrimination (lower social inclusion). Conclusions: Applying social quality theory allows researchers and policy makers to measure and respond to the multiple sources of oppression and advantage experienced by certain population groups, and to monitor the effectiveness of interventions over time. |
Keywords: | Humans Social Behavior Social Identification Interpersonal Relations Prejudice Psychological Theory Sex Factors Socioeconomic Factors Adolescent Adult Aged Middle Aged Vulnerable Populations Australia Female Male Health Status Disparities Young Adult Power, Psychological |
Description: | Extent: 9p. |
Rights: | © 2011 Ward et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
DOI: | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-630 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-630 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest Medicine publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
hdl_67231.pdf | Published version | 182.8 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.