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Aims: Socio-economic inequalities originate from several channels, one of which is family origins, with clear effects on people's health. This paper aims to evaluate the role played by social mobility in determining health inequalities, relying on Blau and Duncan's status attainment model and focusing specifically on two moments of social reproduction of inequalities: one inter-generational, based on the transmission of resources from the family of origin, the other intra-generational, related to the capitalisation of economic resources to maximise well-being. Methods: Multi-group models of structural equations were used to examine the direct and indirect effects of parental cultural background, education and economic conditions of respondents on self-perceived health in 28 countries, relying on the European Social Survey (N =38,879). Results: Overall, the results confirmed the presence of an inter-generational transmission of social and health status. Different models of transmission of health inequalities emerged among the countries considered. Countries characterised by a social democratic welfare regime showed higher social mobility and fewer health inequalities, although in correspondence with a prominent role of economic factors in determining health conditions. On the other hand, in countries where social mobility is lower, health inequalities are more pronounced, yet driven by factors others than economics, such as socio-cultural origins. Conclusions: The presence of a higher economic-health gradient in social democratic countries – notwithstanding their egalitarian and universal welfare policies – provides support for the existence of a Nordic paradox in relation to health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the presence of a territorial heterogeneity and of a contextual effect in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the City of Milan. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a growing health problem worldwide, whose onset is largely determined by an unhealthy lifestyle, as defined by an unbalanced diet and poor physical activity. Being such habits and behaviours more rooted in the most socially, economically, and culturally disadvantaged people, a clear social gradient is visible, with the disease mostly occurring in subjects of lower socioeconomic status. The onset is also determined by the characteristics of the urban environment of residence, such as green spaces, walkability, the food environment, and the availability of services and amenities. To date, there is no empirical evidence concerning the Milanese case. This study aims at shedding light on the phenomenon investigated by integrating administrative healthcare data from the Health Protection Agency of the Metropolitan City of Milan with data from the most recent population census. Multilevel regression models show higher risk of onset in the most disadvantaged areas, regardless the socioeconomic and demographic profile of their inhabitants. This highlights the needs to conceive territorial policies in order to tackle the spread of the disease and its related inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the relationship between the financial crisis of 2008 and the health of Italians using aggregate and individual health indicators in correlation with the socioeconomic changes which have occurred in the Italian population. First, the study contextualises the changes referring to some important health indicators (life expectancy, death and suicide rates). Then, the main hypothesis on the relation between worsened individual health conditions and socioeconomic deterioration is tested. For this purpose, individual data from 2005 to 2013 stemming from Health Condition and Use of Health Services surveys (Italian National Institute of Statistics) are analysed. The results show that the social categories most severely affected by the crisis, in both employment and economic terms, were basically the same as those that experienced a worsening of their physical and psychological health conditions. These categories of people have a low level of educational attainment, live in southern and insular regions and are most often men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This review concerns the book of Ronald F. Inglehart “Cultural Evolution”. The famous scholar presents his “Evolutionary Modernization Theory” about the recent cultural changes after the severe socio-economic crisis that occurred in 2007-08. Whereas a high level of individual security produced a more tolerant and open outlook society, recent structural changes have led to a cultural reaction invoking strong leaders, in-group closure, conformist attitudes and rejection of outsiders. The book is very rich, there are many themes and many data analysis. It is not simple to summarize his many merits, instead, it is simpler to consider some possible weaknesses. In particular, I have two main criticisms: a lack of attention to the problem of ecological fallacy and the absence of a systematic approach to socio-cultural evolutionism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a reflection about the role of social class in the field of the social inequalities in health. The health is fundamental for the reproduction of human societies and constitutes a keystone for social stratification: in facts, the study of health determinants is a central challenge for scholars who look at the empirical dimension of socio-economic disparities. Among these determinants, we stress that social class continues to have an important role, influencing directly or indirectly different dimensions of the individual health (through stress, material deprivation, unhealthy habits, etc.). Moreover, this article focuses on some aspects neglected in the debate, which could instead stem important lines of research: in particular, the redefinition of the concept of social class taking in account the role of networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few years, much sociological debate hasfocusedon individualisation theory, especially on Beck's risk society version. According to this theory, contemporary social change can be interpreted as the progressive weakening of the influence of social structures on individual behaviour. Individualisation theory has been adopted in many fields of study (voting behaviour, consumption behaviour, etc.). Although much of the debate has a theoretical character, there have been some attempts to empirically assess individualisation theory. As far as poverty is concerned, scholars supporting individualisation theory, as well as scholars opposing it, have adopted one of the following methodological strategies: highlighting the role played by individual variables (especially by life course variables) rather than structural variables; controlling for individual rather than structural variables. Both these approaches focus on short observation windows; however, it is necessary to consider long periods in order to assess the core of individualisation theory, i.e. the decreasing influence of social structures. Our approach assesses the change (rather than the stability) of the individual-level relationship between structures (occupational classes, education, etc.) and poverty over a long time period. This changing-parameter model is implemented through multilevel modelling with families at level one and years at level two. The analysisfocuseson the Italian case and it is based on data from the Family Expenditure Survey (Indagine sui Consumi delle Famiglie) that was collected by the Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT). It covers the period from 1985 to 2011. The results seem to indicate that there is stability in the relationship between structures and poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In recent years, Italian citizens have increasingly been asked to share pharmaceutical costs, but at the same time, households' medicines expenditure has decreased. Cost-sharing policies have to be assessed not just in terms of limitation of moral hazard and revenue to the state, but also for equal opportunities for citizen users accessing health services. The aim of this article is to analyze how Italian co-payment policies ('ticket') on medicines may affect pharmaceutical expenditure of households, considering territorial and social groups variation. We reviewed the per capita private spending on medicines of Italian regions, separating pharmaceutical outlay and 'ticket.' Across the period 2001-2010 we found that the overall per capita private spending on medicines remained substantially stable, although medicine expenditure decreases while the 'ticket' increases. When cost sharing rises, out-of-pocket spending on medicines by poorer families seems to remain unchanged; however, poorer families seem to reduce their pharmaceutical expenditure. Our analysis suggests that applying co-payment in Italy is partly successful, in terms of greater revenue to the health system, but in the last few years, cost-sharing increases would seem to have rebounded negatively on more vulnerable families, due to the economic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: to document existing geographical inequalities in health in the city of Milan (Lombardy Region, Northern Italy), examining the association between area socioeconomic disadvantage and health outcomes, with the aim to suggest policy action to tackle them., Design: the analysis used an ecological framework; multiple health indicators were considered in the analysis; socioeconomic disadvantage was measured through indicators such as low education, unemployment, immigration status, and housing crowding. For each municipal statistical area, Bayesian Relative Risks of the outcomes (using the Besag-Yorkand-Mollié model) were plotted on the city map. To evaluate the association between social determinants and health outcomes, Spearman correlation coefficients were estimated., Setting and Participants: residents in the City of Milan aged between 30 and 75 years who were residing in Milan as of 01.01.2019, grouped in 88 statistical areas., Main Outcomes Measures: all-cause mortality, type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, neoplasms, respiratory diseases, metabolic syndrome, antidepressants use, polypharmacy, and multimorbidity., Results: the results consistently demonstrated a significant association between socioeconomic disadvantage and various health outcomes, with low education exhibiting the strongest correlations. Neoplasms displayed an inverse social gradient, while the relationship with antidepressant use varied., Conclusions: these findings provide valuable insights into the distribution of health inequalities in Milan and contribute to the existing literature on the social determinants of health. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to address disparities and promote equitable health outcomes. The results can serve to inform the development of effective public health strategies and policies aimed at reducing health inequalities in the city.