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Mckeown and the idea that social conditions are fundamental causes of disease

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  • Link, B.G.
  • Phelan, J.C.

Abstract

In an accompanying commentary, Colgrove indicates that McKeown's thesis - that dramatic reductions in mortality over the past 2 centuries were due to improved socioeconomic conditions rather than to medical or public health interventions - has been "overturned" and his theory "discredited." McKeown sought to explain a very prominent trend in population health and did so with a strong emphasis on the importance of basic social and economic conditions. If Colgrove is right about the McKeown thesis, social epidemiology is left with a gaping hole in its explanatory repertoire and a challenge to a cherished principle about the importance of social factors in health. We return to the trend McKeown focused upon - post-McKeown and post-Colgrove - to indicate how and why social conditions must continue to be seen as fundamental causes of disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Link, B.G. & Phelan, J.C., 2002. "Mckeown and the idea that social conditions are fundamental causes of disease," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(5), pages 730-732.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:2002:92:5:730-732_9
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Powers & Seung-Eun Song, 2009. "Absolute Change in Cause-Specific Infant Mortality for Blacks and Whites in the US: 1983–2002," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 28(6), pages 817-851, December.
    2. José Joaquín García-Gómez & Juan Diego Pérez-Cebada, 2020. "A Socio-Environmental History of a Copper Mining Company: Rio-Tinto Company Limited (1874–1930)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, June.
    3. P. Johnelle Sparks & Mary Bollinger, 2011. "A Demographic Profile of Obesity in the Adult and Veteran US Populations in 2008," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 30(2), pages 211-233, April.
    4. Hannaliis Jaadla & Allan Puur & Kaja Rahu, 2017. "Socioeconomic and cultural differentials in mortality in a late 19th century urban setting: A linked records study from Tartu, Estonia, 1897-1900," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 36(1), pages 1-40.
    5. Rydland, Håvard T. & Solheim, Erling F. & Eikemo, Terje A., 2020. "Educational inequalities in high- vs. low-preventable health conditions: Exploring the fundamental cause theory," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    6. Zapata-Moya, Angel R. & Freese, Jeremy & Bracke, Piet, 2023. "Mechanism substitution in preventive innovations: Dissecting the reproduction of health inequalities in the United States," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    7. McCartney, Gerry & Collins, Chik & Mackenzie, Mhairi, 2013. "What (or who) causes health inequalities: Theories, evidence and implications?," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(3), pages 221-227.
    8. Biradavolu, Monica Rao & Burris, Scott & George, Annie & Jena, Asima & Blankenship, Kim M., 2009. "Can sex workers regulate police? Learning from an HIV prevention project for sex workers in southern India," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(8), pages 1541-1547, April.
    9. Kim, Seijeoung & Dolecek, Therese A. & Davis, Faith G., 2010. "Racial differences in stage at diagnosis and survival from epithelial ovarian cancer: A fundamental cause of disease approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 274-281, July.
    10. Arlette Campbell White & Thomas W. Merrick & Abdo S. Yazbeck, 2006. "Reproductive Health—The Missing Millennium Development Goal : Poverty, Health, and Development in a Changing World," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 7116.
    11. Luque de Haro, Víctor A. & Pujadas-Mora, Joana M. & García-Gómez, José J., 2021. "Inequality in mortality in pre-industrial southern Europe during an epidemic episode: socio-economic determinants (eighteenth - nineteenth centuries Spain)," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    12. Adelle M R Souza & Gerda G Fillenbaum & Sergio L Blay, 2015. "Prevalence and Correlates of Physical Inactivity among Older Adults in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-14, February.
    13. W. Frisbie & Robert Hummer & Daniel Powers & Seung-Eun Song & Starling Pullum, 2010. "Race/Ethnicity/Nativity Differentials and Changes in Cause-Specific Infant Deaths in the Context of Declining Infant Mortality in the U.S.: 1989–2001," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 29(3), pages 395-422, June.
    14. Jeffrey T. Howard & P. Johnelle Sparks, 2016. "The Effects of Allostatic Load on Racial/Ethnic Mortality Differences in the United States," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 35(4), pages 421-443, August.
    15. Margaret M. Weden, 2007. "Twentieth Century U.S. Racial Inequalities in Mortality Changes in the Average Age of Death and the Variability in the Age of Death for White and non-White Men and Women, 1900-2002," Working Papers WR-497, RAND Corporation.
    16. Provencher, Ashley & Conway, James M., 2019. "Health effects of family member incarceration in the United States: A meta-analysis and cost study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 87-99.
    17. Jobst Augustin & Valerie Andrees & David Walsh & Ralf Reintjes & Daniela Koller, 2023. "Spatial Aspects of Health—Developing a Conceptual Framework," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    18. Gadalla, Tahany M., 2009. "Determinants, correlates and mediators of psychological distress: A longitudinal study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2199-2205, June.
    19. Bengtsson, Tommy & van Poppel, Frans, 2011. "Socioeconomic inequalities in death from past to present: An introduction," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 343-356, July.

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