New Haven Survey of Joint Diseases: XIV. Social Class and Behavior in Response to Symptoms of Osteoarthrosis

Abstract

A characteristic of social systems that has long fascinated scholars is the division of society into classes or strata based on variations in wealth, power and prestige. The United States is noted for its egalitarian ideology, its belief in the existence of a greater opportunity for social mobility than in other countries, and for its lack of class consciousness. Nevertheless, economic position varies widely within American society and location in the economic spectrum affects many aspects of social behavior and life opportunities. Variations in life styles, mating and sexual behavior, child-rearing customs, values and so forth have all been linked to socioeconomic or social class position.1-3 The evidence indicates that response to illness and receipt of medical care are also influenced by position in this stratification system4-6 although the data available are not consistent. Knowledge of the impact of social class position on health is especially important because, as Parsons7 has pointed out, education and health are fundamental to achievement because they condition the individual's capacity to exploit whatever opportunities society has to offer. Therefore, access to health and educational services becomes a central problem of justice in a society such as this, with its emphasis on achievement, and equality of opportunity to achieve. Knowledge of the factors