Social class: concepts and operationalization models in health research

This article discusses the use of the concept of class in health research, different sociological approaches to social stratification and class structure, and the explanatory potential of the class concept in studies on social determinants and health inequalities. It also elaborates on the operationalization models that have been developed for use in sociological, demographic, or health research, as well as the limitations and scope of these models. Four main operationalization models were highlighted: the model developed by Singer for studies on income distribution in Brazil and adapted by Barros for use in epidemiological research, the model of Bronfman and Tuirán to study the Mexican demographics census and adapted by Lombardi for epidemiological research, the model proposed by Goldthorpe for socioeconomic studies in the UK and adapted by the Spanish Society of Epidemiology, and the model proposed by Wright for research in sociology and political science, which has also been used in population surveys in health. In conclusion, each of the models presented is consistent with their underlying theoretical concept, precluding the selection of one model over the others.

本文探讨了阶级（class）概念在健康研究中的应用、社会分层（social stratification）与阶级结构的不同社会学研究路径，以及阶级概念在社会决定因素（social determinants）与健康不平等（health inequalities）相关研究中的解释潜力。本文还阐述了为社会学、人口学或健康研究开发的各类操作化模型（operationalization models），以及这些模型的局限性与适用范围。本文重点介绍了四类主流操作化模型：一是由Singer提出、用于巴西收入分配研究，后经Barros适配应用于流行病学研究（epidemiological research）的模型；二是Bronfman与Tuirán为墨西哥人口普查（demographics census）研究开发，后经Lombardi适配用于流行病学研究的模型；三是Goldthorpe为英国社会经济研究（socioeconomic studies）提出，后经西班牙流行病学学会适配的模型；四是Wright为社会学与政治学研究提出，同时也被应用于健康领域人口调查的模型。综上，本文所呈现的各类模型均与其背后的理论概念相契合，因此不存在某一模型优于其他模型的情况。