Health inequalities and welfare state regimes: theoretical insights on a public health ‘puzzle’: Table 1
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Welfare states are important determinants of health. Comparative social epidemiology has almost invariably concluded that population health is enhanced by the relatively generous and universal welfare provision of the Scandinavian countries. However, most international studies of socioeconomic inequalities in health have thrown up something of a public health 'puzzle' as the Scandinavian welfare states do not, as would generally be expected, have the smallest health inequalities. This essay outlines and interrogates this puzzle by drawing upon existing theories of health inequalities--artefact, selection, cultural--behavioural, materialist, psychosocial and life course--to generate some theoretical insights. It discusses the limits of these theories in respect to cross-national research; it questions the focus and normative paradigm underpinning contemporary comparative health inequalities research; and it considers the future of comparative social epidemiology.
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Variability between countries in age patterns might be explained by methodological and health-related factors, such as differences in the populations analyzed and reporting bias, differences in access to health care resources and treatments in the older population, and differences in welfare regimes and social protection policies.
“Such variability between countries in the age patterns, might be explained by methodological and health-related factors, such as differences in the populations analized and reporting bias between countries, differences in the access to health care resources and treatments in older population, and differences in welfare regimes and social protection policies.”
From Prevalence and age patterns of depression in the United Kingdom. A population-based study (2021) · cites this paper as Bambra, 2011
Due to high differences between countries in these factors, the prevalence in the middle-age group might be higher in the UK than in southern or central European countries.
“Due to the high differences between countries in these factors, the prevalence in the middle-age group might be higher in the UK than in southern or central European countries (Arias-de la Torre et al., 2019b;Bambra, 2011;Bambra and Eikemo, 2008;Reibling, 2010).”
From Prevalence and age patterns of depression in the United Kingdom. A population-based study (2021) · cites this paper as Bambra, 2011
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- Authors
- Bambra, C.
- Affiliations
- Durham University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Bambra, Clare
- ORCID
- Bambra, Clare
- Venue
- Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2011-06-20
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 740-745
- ISSN
- 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
- 0143-005X
- 1470-2738
- OpenAlex
- W2110599657
- Cited by
- 284
- References
- 61
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 11.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity) (cc-by-nc)
- Funders
- University of St Andrews
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Social Sciences › Health › Public Health and Social Inequalities
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Social Policy and Reform Studies
- Keywords
- health disparities, welfare regimes, Nordic welfare states, socioeconomic inequalities in health, selection theory, cultural theory, behavioral theory, materialist theory, psychosocial theory, life course perspective, cross-country analysis
- MeSH terms
- Epidemiologic Methods, Female, Humans, Male, Political Systems, Scandinavian and Nordic Countries, Social Class, Social Welfare, Sociology, Medical, Health Status Disparities
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