Deck 11: The Impact of Inequality on Personal Life Chances

Question 1

The self-perceptions of health of Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans are remarkably alike. How do they see their health and what is the evidence for this?

A) They see their health as less than average as measured by the National Center for Health Statistics.
B) They see their health as fair and often this is borne out by family medical histories.
C) The U.S. Census shows that these minorities see themselves as comparatively healthy compared to Whites.
D) White perceptions suggest that Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans are likely sicker because of alcoholism, drug abuse, and the like.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Individuals with assets and income from a variety of sources have lower mortality risks. Part of this is due to what mindset or psychological factor?

A) knowing that they can afford health care
B) knowing that they can rely on their families
C) a sense of stability, that people with the means to take care of themselves don't get sick
D) the confidence that comes from not having to rely on public health insurance

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What is the link between status and morbidity?

A) The social and economic context in which lower socioeconomic individuals live has a causal effect on health.
B) There is a direct relationship, in that race causes poor health.
C) The link is related to individual health choices alone.
D) Casual, in that poor health results in a drop in status.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which is true regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

A) People may not be disqualified due to pre-existing conditions.
B) All private companies must provide coverage to employees.
C) The ACA has eliminated income differences between health insurance coverage.
D) All states now provide expanded Medicaid coverage.

Question 5

Similar to the security that is passed on by inherited wealth, what insecurity is "passed on" by minority, lower-status individuals?

A) The depressed sense of physical and mental well-being is learned and repeated by the children of lower-status individuals, especially Black children.
B) Continuous hardship is passed on like a chronic condition, a lethal gene.
C) The depressed sense of physical and mental well-being becomes an inherited trait.
D) Increasingly less knowledge about the health effects of some behaviors is passed on, resulting in more of these behaviors and with a greater frequency of trauma.

Question 6

The self-assessment of health is not only related to the socioeconomic status of individual households. How do communities affect it?

A) Physical deterioration, environmental problems, social disorder, and the like can depress the self-assessment of health.
B) The distinct gap between the White and Black neighborhoods is thrown into relief.
C) One's health is more likely to be setback in such communities (e.g. air pollution, lead in paint, suicide).
D) The environmental problems are much more intense in lower socioeconomic communities.

Question 7

Although women tend to be healthier than men and live longer, what economic factor adds to stresses on their real health and self-assessment of health?

A) lower occupational and earnings status
B) the economics of longevity
C) husbands who earn less
D) child-rearing

Question 8

Evaluate the following statement: Individuals in lower socioeconomic positions choose not to seek care for their health problems.

A) This is false. Studies reveal that regardless of income and education, they will see a doctor when they deem it necessary.
B) This is true. They prefer to self-treat whenever possible to avoid the expense and inconvenience of a doctor visit.
C) This is false. They will go directly to the emergency room to seek what they think is the quickest care.
D) With the exception of "trauma," this is correct for general health problems and prevention measures.

Question 9

High death rates as well as chronic illnesses among lower socioeconomic groups have been tied to an inability to bear the cost of health care. Which of the following best represents a symptom of this phenomenon?

A) prescription noncompliance because of the cost of drugs
B) refusing to pay copayments
C) waiting for public health insurance coverage
D) seeking Canadian citizenship

Question 10

What might explain health disparity by gender?

A) Men are more likely to engage in risky behavior.
B) Women are more prone to genetic illnesses.
C) Women's higher occupational status leads to greater health.
D) Women tend to be less sensitive to health symptoms.

Question 11

What is the social causation position in the relationship between lower socioeconomic status and poor mental health?

A) That the characteristics of class position foster conditions that produce mental health problems.
B) Social groups rise and fall in status in correlation to their overall mental health.
C) That the pressures of modern society cause mental illness.
D) Individuals who are mentally ill suffer job loss, and this causes them to drift down in status.

Question 12

Unlike Whites, young Blacks benefit from what common denominator when faced with psychological distress?

A) racial identity
B) ethnicity
C) community structure
D) gang membership

Question 13

Research suggests that the homeless population:

A) Is increasingly homogeneous.
B) Has increased since 2007.
C) Over half are mentally disabled.
D) Is very different from the composition of the local population.

Question 14

What is the difference between lower and higher socioeconomic positions and those feelings of self-mastery and self-image when job loss takes place?

A) Those of lower status have a greater sense that their lives are determined by factors beyond their immediate control.
B) Higher-status individuals are more inclined to blame themselves.
C) Lower-status individuals blame others before themselves.
D) Higher-status individuals typically master what has gone wrong with their lives after a job loss.

Question 15

Evaluate the following: Food insecurity, in terms of a healthy diet, is only a problem faced by lower socioeconomic groups-not the middle and upper classes.

A) Food insecurity takes place at all levels, but in the middle and upper classes it is in terms of how much is spent (e.g. higher-priced natural foods, vegan and raw diets), not in how little food they can get.
B) This is true, since the middle and upper socioeconomic groups have the income to afford food and insecurity among them would be an anomaly, such as is exhibited by survivalists.
C) The wealthy also have poor diets-but they have the means to undo the damage (doctor-managed diets, health clubs, Weight Watchers, etc.).
D) This is true. Diseases such as anorexia are restricted to White, upper-class girls and women, for example.