Over the past few decades, wealth and education have become increasingly concentrated among older generations. The rise of modern medicine helped to disproportionately benefit older people since their life expectancy increased by more than two decades in a hundred years.
The benefits were more pronounced among wealthier individuals, who saw their average life expectancy increase six years.
This pattern is called generational inequality and results from systems such as education or less-than-adequate healthcare being inaccessible to those unable to afford them.
The social impact is that younger generations are left with fewer opportunities in life, while older generations enjoy greater access to powerful economic and social resources.
The intergenerational transmission of health inequalities refers to increasing wealth and education among successive generations. This concept can relate to physical and mental health and any disparities between rich and poor.
Health is closely tied to a person’s social status. People with more money have better access to education, good employment, quality food, and living conditions, directly affecting their health.
Similarly, people with less money tend to suffer from poorer jobs, housing conditions, diets, and limited medical care because of their financial situation or lack of healthcare insurance.
Thus, being born into a wealthier family offers advantages into adulthood that is not afforded to those born from low-income families.
People with more money are more likely to be able to afford better healthcare, meals, housing, and other social benefits that lead to better health outcomes.
These factors affect the individual’s physical health and mental well-being, greatly affecting their professional future. Thus, reducing health inequalities will also positively influence the economy by improving the financial well-being of individuals.
The intergenerational transmission of health inequalities is widely debated among researchers and academics alike. A large body of literature exists to explain this phenomenon; however, much remains unclear about the exact mechanisms involved.
The Existence Of Structural Inequality:
The idea is that inequalities are based on structural factors such as unequal educational opportunities, institutional failure, or government policies that do not consider the needs of the individuals within each generation.
Generational Continuity:
The view that the same social and economic factors have persisted in past generations will remain relevant for future generations.
Social Mobility:
The idea is that social status determines a person’s health status at birth instead of their current condition.
Social Class:
Individuals’ social differences are generated from hierarchies created by membership in different groups, such as a job, educational achievement, or class membership.
Conclusion:
Social inequalities can be witnessed in any society, and the intergenerational transmission of health inequalities is an example. However, the impact of socioeconomic factors is limited by the social and economic state.
Some countries have succeeded in reducing health inequalities between generations.
The intergenerational transmission of health inequalities only exists to the extent that it is allowed to exist. Government policies can reduce or further increase this phenomenon at all levels: social, institutional, and personal. In particular, educational opportunities facilitate upward mobility to help break this cycle completely.
Future research should identify more specific causal mechanisms for how all these levels interact together to contribute to a downward or upward trend in generational inequality.
View Also –