International Journal of Epidemiology 2003;32:958-960
© International Epidemiological Association 2003
Special Theme: Mental Health |
Commentary: Relating social structure and health
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 1–19 Torrington Place, London WC1E 6BT, UK. E-mail: m.bartley@public-health.ucl.ac.uk
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Muntaner et al.1 have taken on one of the major issues for social epidemiology today. For many years now, we have seen study after study showing relationships between health and some measure or other of socioeconomic position and circumstances. But, with honourable exceptions, studies have rarely faced up directly to the problems involved in the conceptualization and measurement of socioeconomic position (SEP).2–6 There is seldom any account of how it has been decided to use one or other method. Studies are then compared with little consideration for the fact that some use indicators of income, others use indicators of prestige, and others use education.7,8 Even to make the distinction between class and prestige is likely to sound rather strange to many readers.
As Muntaner et al. point out, the
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