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The importance of economic, social and cultural capital in understanding health inequalities: using a Bourdieu‐based approach in research on physical and mental health perceptions
Author(s) -
Pinxten Wouter,
Lievens John
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
sociology of health and illness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1467-9566
pISSN - 0141-9889
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9566.12154
Subject(s) - cultural capital , social capital , mental health , social mobility , sociology , economic capital , inequality , social inequality , social reproduction , individual capital , capital (architecture) , health equity , social status , demographic economics , economics , psychology , economic growth , human capital , social science , health care , geography , mathematical analysis , mathematics , archaeology , psychotherapist
In this article we adopt a Bourdieu‐based approach to study social inequalities in perceptions of mental and physical health. Most research takes into account the impact of economic or social capital on health inequalities. Bourdieu, however, distinguishes between three forms of capital that can determine peoples' social position: economic, social and cultural capital. Health research examining the effects of cultural capital is scarce. By simultaneously considering and modelling indicators of each of Bourdieu's forms of capital, we further the understanding of the dynamics of health inequalities. Using data from a large‐scale representative survey ( N = 1825) in Flanders, Belgium, we find that each of the forms of capital has a net effect on perceptions of physical and mental health, which persists after controlling for the other forms of capital and for the effects of other correlates of perceived health. The only exception is that the cultural capital indicators are not related to mental health. These results confirm the value of a Bourdieu‐based approach and indicate the need to consider economic, social and cultural capital to obtain a better understanding of social inequality in health.