| Theory driven research designs for explaining behavioural health risk transitions: the case of smoking. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19394742 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Recent social network analyses have suggested that common chronic disease risk factors are more mutable than expected; raising practical considerations for public health interventions. Within this context, it is timely to assess the alternative social science reasoning being offered to explain behavioural health risk transitions. This paper takes up this challenge by critically reviewing the major theories applied to the temporal trends and sub-population variations in affluent country smoking behaviour. Three explanations dominate: a materialist approach; Bourdieu's distinctive class-based cultures; and, the spread of norms and emotions within social networks. We note conceptual tension when integrated theories are adopted. We also report on the relative absence of theoretical interrogation for the persistent adoption of smoking behaviours among present and successive lower socio-economic status (SES) cohorts. While unequal rates of persistence within cohorts has received some attention, the ongoing adoption of a non-innovative and health damaging behaviour is not well understood. To this end, we suggest the incorporation of several underused concepts: namely Bourdieu's 'rules of the game' and 'symbolic violence' and 'mimesis', an aspect of social contagion. We conclude by describing the implications for social action of the alternative theories, and argue that theory driven research designs could deliver more efficacious evidence for interventions than the post hoc application of theories to existing data sets. |
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Authors:
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Jane Dixon; Cathy Banwell |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article Date: 2009-04-24 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Social science & medicine (1982) Volume: 68 ISSN: 1873-5347 ISO Abbreviation: Soc Sci Med Publication Date: 2009 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-06-15 Completed Date: 2009-09-11 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8303205 Medline TA: Soc Sci Med Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 2206-14 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Jane.Dixon@anu.edu.au |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Australia
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epidemiology Cohort Studies Female Health Behavior* Humans Male Models, Theoretical* Risk-Taking* Smoking* / epidemiology Social Class |
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