2.4. Explain sociological explanations for the patterning of mortality and morbidity rates in the demographic groups: • gender • age • ethnicity • area of residence

This guide will help you answer 2.4. Explain sociological explanations for the patterning of mortality and morbidity rates in the demographic groups: • gender • age • ethnicity • area of residence.

Understanding the patterns of mortality and morbidity requires looking beyond biology and considering the social factors that influence health. Let’s explore these patterns across different demographic groups: gender, age, ethnicity, and area of residence.

Gender

Biological and Social Roles

Gender roles influence health outcomes deeply. Women generally have longer life expectancies than men. However, they experience higher morbidity. This means that while women live longer, they often face more health issues.

• Biological Differences: Men and women differ biologically, which affects disease susceptibility. For example, women are more prone to osteoporosis while men are more susceptible to heart disease.
• Social Roles: Women often engage in caregiving roles, which may limit their economic opportunities and increase stress. This role might partly explain the higher morbidity rates among women.

Risk Behaviours

Men are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviours. These include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and unsafe driving. Such behaviours contribute to higher mortality rates among men.

• Access to Health Services: Women generally utilise healthcare services more frequently than men. This could lead to early detection and treatment of conditions, increasing morbidity rates but reducing mortality.

Age

Ageing Population

As people age, they naturally face greater health challenges. However, the differences in morbidity and mortality at various ages are significant.

• Childhood and Adolescence: Mortality rates are relatively low. Common issues include infectious diseases and accidents.
• Middle Age: This is when chronic conditions begin to appear, including diabetes and heart disease. Lifestyle factors gained earlier in life often manifest as morbidity in this stage.
• Older Adults: Mortality rates increase significantly. Chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s become prevalent. The body’s reduced resilience to illness contributes to this pattern.

Social Isolation

Older adults often face social isolation, which affects mental health. This isolation can lead to depression and a lack of support for managing physical health conditions.

Ethnicity

Socioeconomic Status

Ethnic minorities often face socioeconomic disadvantages. Poverty, education access, and employment opportunities influence health outcomes.

• Healthcare Access: Ethnic minorities might face barriers to accessing healthcare, including language barriers and discriminatory practices. This can lead to untreated conditions and higher morbidity.
• Cultural Beliefs: Certain ethnic groups may hold cultural beliefs that affect health-seeking behaviours. Some might prefer traditional remedies over modern medicine, delaying effective treatment.

Discrimination and Stress

Experiencing discrimination leads to chronic stress, impacting both mental and physical health. Chronic stress can increase the risk of diseases like hypertension and heart disease.

• Genetic Factors: While sociological factors primarily shape these patterns, certain genetic predispositions can influence health outcomes in different ethnic groups. These factors interact with the social environment, affecting morbidity and mortality.

Area of Residence

Urban vs Rural

Where people live significantly affects their health outcomes. Urban and rural areas present different challenges and benefits.

• Urban Areas: People in urban areas may have access to better healthcare facilities. However, they might face higher pollution levels and stress from overcrowding.
• Rural Areas: These areas often face healthcare access issues due to fewer facilities and professionals. Residents might also have lower socioeconomic status, affecting overall health outcomes.

Deprivation

Areas with higher deprivation levels often face worse health outcomes. Poor housing, unemployment, and lack of recreational facilities contribute to this.

• Access to Nutritious Food: In deprived areas, access to affordable, nutritious food might be limited. This leads to poor diet and increased morbidity from diseases like obesity and diabetes.
• Crime Rates: High crime rates can lead to stress and mental health issues. Fear of crime also limits outdoor activities, affecting physical health.

How These Factors Interact

These factors do not operate in isolation. Intersectionality describes how aspects like gender, age, ethnicity, and where you live combine to shape your health risks.

For example:

• A young, Black man living in a deprived city neighbourhood may face higher risks than a white man in the same area, because of both ethnic and class disadvantage.
• An older woman from a minority group living in a rural area may experience challenges from limited transport and lack of culturally appropriate care.

Sociological Theories

Sociologists study health inequalities using many ideas:

• Social Determinants of Health: These are conditions (like work, home, education and income) that shape overall health.
• Materialist Theory: Focuses on access to money and resources—richer people can afford safer housing, better food and private healthcare.
• Cultural Theory: Examines cultural habits, diets, beliefs and values that affect health choices.
• Behavioural Theory: Looks at individual choices (like smoking or exercise), but these are strongly affected by surroundings and upbringing.
• Structuralist Theory: Highlights how large systems, such as the economy and the welfare state, create advantages for some and disadvantages for others.
• Intersectionality: Recognises people are affected by many parts of their identity at once.

Summary

Mortality and morbidity patterns across demographic groups are shaped by a complex interplay of biological, social, and environmental factors.

• Gender: Influenced by biological differences and social roles.
• Age: Affected by natural ageing and social isolation.
• Ethnicity: Shaped by socioeconomic status and discrimination.
• Area of Residence: Defined by urban versus rural challenges and levels of deprivation.

Understanding these patterns helps in creating targeted interventions and policies to improve health outcomes for all groups. Addressing both the social determinants and biological factors is essential in reducing disparities in health.