The second Health Inequalities Module in the European Social Survey (ESS): Methodology and research opportunities

Area of Science:

• Social Epidemiology
• Public Health Research
• Cross-national Comparative Studies

Background:

• The European Social Survey (ESS) has tracked European attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors since 2002.
• A rotating module on health and its social determinants was introduced in 2013/14.
• This module significantly advanced research on social inequalities in health across Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize key findings from the first ESS Health Inequalities Module.
• To detail the methodology of the second ESS Health Inequalities Module (2023/24).
• To identify future research opportunities and provide critical reflections on health inequalities in Europe.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes data from the European Social Survey (ESS).
• Focuses on two rotating Health Inequalities modules (2013/14 and 2023/24).
• Employs cross-national comparative analysis of social determinants of health.

Main Results:

• The first module provided substantial insights into social inequalities in health across European populations.
• The ESS data reveals variations in health inequalities between different countries and welfare states.
• The second module enables the study of stability and change in these inequalities amidst contemporary developments.

Conclusions:

• The ESS Health Inequalities modules are vital for understanding the complexities of health disparities in Europe.
• The data facilitates research across various disciplines, including public health, sociology, and economics.
• Future research can leverage these modules to explore evolving patterns of health inequalities.