Class and lifestyle ‘lock‐in’ among middle‐aged and older men

A Multiple Correspondence Analysis of the British Regional Heart Study

Dados Bibliográficos

ID11164530
AutoresIan Rees Jones (0000-0002-1682-9134, Bangor University, autor correspondente), Olia Papacosta (0000-0001-8781-6747, University College London), Peter H Whincup (0000-0002-5589-4107, St George's, University of London), Goya Wannamethee (0000-0001-9484-9977, University College London), S Goya Wannamethee, Richard W Morris (0000-0002-5018-1239), Richard Morris (0000-0003-0208-8440, University College London)
Ano2011
Volume33
Fascículo3
Páginas399-419
Data de publicação2011-03-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1467-9566.2010.01280.x
PMID21241333
OpenAlexW1489070561
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas16
Referências citadas66

Health lifestyles are collective patterns of health risk behaviour that develop within a social habitus. An important area for research is the extent to which health lifestyles become more individualised over time and as people age, or whether health lifestyles remain socially structured. This article presents findings from a Multiple Correspondence Analysis of the British Regional Heart Study. Our findings suggest that smoking and alcohol use retain a strong class patterning as men age (suggesting some support for the long‐term importance of social structures in old age). This indicates that, in later life, some forms of class‐related health lifestyles become fixed or ‘locked in’. In contrast there is evidence to suggest that, for exercise, class becomes less important as people age (suggesting either some support for growing individualisation and or important ageing effects). Further studies are required to examine different forms of health lifestyle in later life in relation to forms of cultural and economic capital. This study provides evidence in support of attempts to theorise health lifestyles in terms of collectivities. Furthermore, the concept of selective lifestyle ‘lock‐in’ may be a useful way of understanding the relationship between class and health lifestyles in old age

Cultural capital · Developmental psychology · Habitus · Life course approach · Multiple correspondence analysis · Political science · Social capital · Social class · Social science · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Gerontology