Abstract

Social epidemiology, is a predominantly empirically-oriented discipline, that is mainly centred towards the identification of unequally distributed risk factors in explaining socio-economic health inequalities (SEHI). This article first presents an overview of the different empirical causes of SEHI. Then it is argued that the very convincing empirical results are in contrast with a poor social scientific operationalisation of the social mechanisms causing SEHI. In this paper the concept of fundamental social causes of disease, introduced by Link and Phelan (1995), is provided of a stronger social-theoretical framework. One point of special concern is the position of the fundamental causes within the “structure and agency-problem” of sociology. Next, the fundamental causes are described more accurately as “relational systems of means allocation”. It is our central argument that a careful conceptualisation of fundamental social causes is needed in order to be able to identify them. This is illustrated with two examples.

How to Cite:

Vanroelen, C., Louckx, F. & Beck, M., (2008) “Sociaaleconomische gezondheidsverschillen: sociologische beschouwingen bij een empiristisch onderzoeksgebied”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 29(2-3), 158–183. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86703