Working-class discourses of politics, policy and health: 'I don't smoke; don't drink. The only thing wrong with me is my health'

Mackenzie, M. , Collins, C., Connolly, J., Doyle, M. and McCartney, G. (2017) Working-class discourses of politics, policy and health: 'I don't smoke; don't drink. The only thing wrong with me is my health'. Policy and Politics, 45(2), pp. 231-249. (doi: 10.1332/030557316X14534640177927)

Abstract

It is known that population health is socially and politically determined. A gap, however, between the evidence and policy (where behavioural approaches dominate) is evident. This study used semi-structured interviews in two deindustrialised areas in Scotland to explore understandings of the causes of (ill)health in local communities. Using Raphael’s Discourses of Social Health Determinants, we found that participants typically had highly integrated explanations of health, including vivid articulation of links between politics, policies, deindustrialisation, damage to community fabric, and impacts on health. This understanding contrasts with that identified by research elsewhere. We posit explanations for our findings, and discuss their implications.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mackenzie, Professor Mhairi
• Authors: Mackenzie, M., Collins, C., Connolly, J., Doyle, M., and McCartney, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Social Scientists working in Health and Wellbeing; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Policy and Politics
• Publisher: Policy Press
• ISSN: 0305-5736
• ISSN (Online): 1470-8442
• Published Online: 12 February 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 Policy Press
• First Published: First published in Policy and Politics 45(2):231-249
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher