Is Racism a Fundamental Cause of Inequalities in Health?

Practice flashcards based on Phelan and Link's article discussing how racism functions as a fundamental cause of health inequalities, highlighting key concepts around SES and health outcomes.

What is identified as a fundamental cause of health inequalities in the U.S. according to Phelan and Link?

Racism is identified as a fundamental cause of health inequalities.

How does socioeconomic status (SES) relate to health inequalities?

SES is a fundamental cause of health inequalities that persists despite changes in diseases and risk factors.

What are flexible resources as described in the context of fundamental causes of health?

Flexible resources are money, knowledge, power, prestige, beneficial social connections that individuals use to manage health risks.

What is the relationship between systemic racism and health inequalities?

Systemic racism is linked to racial differences in SES, which in turn is linked to health inequalities.

According to the article, what evidence supports the claim that racial inequalities in mortality persist?

Black Americans have worse health outcomes and shorter life expectancies compared to white Americans.

What is the ‘weathering’ hypothesis?

The weathering hypothesis suggests that the cumulative stress of living in a stigmatized environment leads to early health deterioration among black Americans.

What impact does discrimination have on health outcomes for black Americans?

Discrimination is a social stressor that negatively impacts various health outcomes.

How are racial inequalities in health outcomes classified independent of socioeconomic status?

Studies find significant racial health inequalities remain even when controlling for SES.

What are the implications of fundamental cause theory in regard to addressing health disparities?

Health disparities cannot be eliminated solely by addressing proximate risk factors; it requires addressing the fundamental causes, such as racism.

What does Link & Phelan’s theory imply about the persistence of health inequalities?

If a factor is a fundamental cause, it maintains an association with health outcomes over time despite changes in risk factors.