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
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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.
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Arts and cultural appreciation are known to enhance social capital.
“Arts and cultural appreciation are known to enhance social capital [40]”
From Difference in predictors and barriers to arts and cultural engagement with age in the United States: A cross-sectional analysis using the Health and Retirement Study (2021) · cites this paper as [40]
The Cultural capital section links cultural participation and aesthetic experiences to health, while the Social capital section defines social capital as a network-based resource. Neither says that arts or cultural appreciation enhances social capital. The Discussion says the study cannot assess how people convert one form of capital into another. (LLM, conf=0.76)
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Fluharty, M., Paul, E., Bone, J., Bu, F., Sonke, J., & Fancourt, D. (2021) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0261532 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
- Authors
- Pinxten, W., & Lievens, J.
- Affiliations
- Ghent University (BE)
- Corresponding author
- Lievens, John
- ORCID
- Lievens, John
- Venue
- Sociology of Health & Illness
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-07-10
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 1095-1110
- ISSN
- 0141-9889 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9566
- OpenAlex
- W2097378530
- Cited by
- 217
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 5.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Sociology of Health & Illness (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Cultural Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
- Keywords
- health disparities, cultural capital, social capital, economic capital, Pierre Bourdieu, health perception, mental health, physical health, Flanders
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Belgium, Culture, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Residence Characteristics, Socioeconomic Factors, Health Status Disparities, Young Adult, Social Determinants of Health, Social Capital
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