1. Socio-economic factors LO: How can different socio-economic factors influence health campaigns?
Deadline for task 2= Monday 24th April
(Your lesson on Monday will be assignment time!)
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

2. Socio-economic factors
This is a broad area but for the purposes of the assignment, you are being asked to explain how finance, social class and peer pressure may affect people’s ability and desire to change their behaviour in response to health education campaigns.
Use of the case studies is recommended to support your explanations.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

3. What social and economic factors influence your health?
In pairs, discuss all the things that you think have an impact on your own health. Make some notes…..
So what influences your health?
Health education campaigns need to take into account people’s social and economic situations and the ways these can influence people’s ability to make changes to their health behaviour.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

4. What are the factors?
A variety of factors have an impact on our experience of health/ill health. Individually, they can appear straight forward, but these factors interact with each other to create a complex situation.
They include things like ethnicity, gender, social class, employment, housing and environment.
Understanding these factors helps us to appreciate the challenges faced by health and social care workers who have responsibility to promote health via campaigns.
These factors are also known as health determinants.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

5. Socio-economic factors

6. Dahlgren and Whitehead
Dahlgren and Whitehead’s model of health determinants is well known and states that there are different layers of factors that determine health.
At the centre is the individual, of a certain age, sex and with set inherited characteristics. We cannot change these.
Then there are individual lifestyle factors, such as how much exercise the person takes, their dietary choices, whether or not they smoke. We can change these.
The next layer is the social and community networks the person has – relationships, support.
Above this is living and working conditions and the outer layer is the general socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

7. Social Class
A division of a society based on social and economic status.
The traditional classification of social class is seen by some as out of date. A survey by the BBC in 2013 suggested that there are 7 different classes: the elite (the wealthiest), the established middle classes, the technical middle classes, new affluent workers, traditional working class, emergent service workers and the precarious proletariat (the poorest).
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

8. Social Class
There is plenty of evidence linking socio-economic factors with health outcomes. Where there is inequality in society there will be health inequality. The Marmot review of 2010 stated that “people with higher socioeconomic position in society have a greater array of life chances and more opportunities to lead a flourishing life. They also have better health”.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

9. Social Class
Social background – can influence what people consider to be important in their lives. Upbringing will develop habits that can influence health, such as the importance of regular visits to the dentist, having a balanced diet, starting to smoke or not, taking exercise.
Housing - Owner occupiers have better health than those who rent. Housing quality impacts on health (respiratory disorders and winter deaths). Homelessness – rough sleepers and temporary accommodation. 40 times less likely to be registered with a GP than the general population and 35 times more likely to commit suicide.
Neighbourhood – “better” neighbourhoods tend to have access to good quality health and social care services. The JRF found evidence of those in greatest need having least access. Easy access to green spaces/gym/sports facilities will influence health promoting behaviours
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

10. Social Class
Smoking and obesity are more likely in lower socioeconomic groups
Smoking – in 1948, 82% of men and 41% of women smoked. Surveys of smoking habits began in 1974 and smoking rates fell steadily until 2007, remaining fairly static to the present day. In 2015, 19.3% of men smoke and 15.3% of women. Between 2011 and 2015, smoking rates dropped in all age groups, but particularly in the years group (
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer. 46,403 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2014 ( )
Lack of time can lead to people relying on fast food and snacks. Statistics on obesity published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in 2015 stated that 25% of adults were obese, men and women were equally likely to be obese, but men were more likely to be overweight.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

11. So…..
We’ve got some idea of what we mean by social class and examples of the ways that class can impact on health
How does social class influence the way people behave and their desire to change their health behaviour? How might social class influence health campaigns?
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

12. Finances
Unemployment is linked to poor physical and mental health, which can then affect the motivation and ability to make changes to health behaviour.
Income – level of income determines access to a wide range of goods/services such as
Private health care
Good quality food
Housing
Education
Opportunities for leisure/recreation
Having a regular income is important for stability in life and is usually dependent on being employed
Disposable income is linked to health status.
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

13. Finances
Poverty is defined by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) as your resources being well; below your minimum needs. Their report on poverty in the UK (2016) states that 13.5 million people are living in poverty in the UK.
The Marmot Review 2010 found that people living in the poorest areas of England died 7 years earlier than those living in the richest.
A report by the JRF into money and health found that
Managing on a low income is stressful
People on low incomes are more likely to adopt unhealthy behaviours
Vicious cycle – low income – poor health – unemployment
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

14. So….
We’ve got some examples of the ways that finance can impact on health
How does finance influence the way people behave and their desire to change their health behaviour? How might it influence people’s response to health campaigns?
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

15. Peer Pressure
Peer pressure refers to the influence of other people on what we do/don’t do
A peer is someone who we think of as an equal e.g. in terms of age or status and can be someone we look up to
Our peers can influence our behaviour positively and negatively
Peer pressure can be direct (e.g. someone telling you what you should be doing), indirect (e.g. seeing people do something and doing it when you are with them) or individual i.e. from within us, usually to fit in with others
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

16. Peer Pressure Henry Taijel – Social Identity Theory
“The central hypothesis of social identity theory is that group members of an in-group will seek to find negative aspects of an out-group, thus enhancing their self-image”.
3 mental processes: social categorization, social identification and social comparison
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

17. Taijel continued
Social categorization – we assign people to a category
Social identification – if we want to join that category/group because it appeals to us in someway, we adopt the identity of that group and this then influences the way we behave
Social comparison – we compare our group(s) to others and in order to maintain our self esteem, we will compare ourselves favourably- we are the better group (the in crowd).
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

18. So…. We’ve got some idea of what we mean by peer pressure
How does peer pressure influence the way people behave and their desire to change their health behaviour? How might an appreciation of peer pressure influence the effectiveness of health campaigns?
P2: Explain two models of behaviour change that have been used in recent national health education campaigns
M1: Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns

19. Link between socio-economic factors & health education

20. M1
Explain how socio-economic factors can influence health education campaigns.
If you are going to successfully plan a health education campaign you will need to be able to understand and explain:
What are socio-economic factors?
How different socio-economic factors can influence individuals choices relating to health and lifestyle?
What impact socio-economic factors can have on the motivation of individuals to change health related behaviours?
Give examples of how current health education campaigns have attempted to do this!

21. Bibliography
Naidoo, J and Wills, J (2005) Public Health and Health Promotion (2nd Edition) Bailliere Tindall
Stretch B (2007) Health and Social Care Core Themes. Heinemann
(for health profiles and Marmot indicators)
(National Obesity Observation)