The impact of social stratification on morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 16 September 2020
Issue publication date: 2 December 2020
Abstract
Purpose
Socioeconomic status (SES) has been known to be associated with many aspects of social life such as health. We argue that social stratification remains relevant in understanding differentials in health during a pandemic, as countries globally have encouraged or enforced social distancing and remote work measures.
Design/methodology/approach
By examining data sources and news reports on the COVID-19 pandemic, we aim to highlight the relationship between SES and morbidity, through the ability to adopt social distancing measures and work remotely. Utilizing publicly available data from the Maryland Transport Institute and the US Census, we performed linear regressions on median income, social distancing index and percentage of individuals working from home.
Findings
Individuals with higher SES are more likely to have jobs that provide opportunities for remote work to be performed, which allows for social distancing. Comparatively, individuals with lower SES are more likely to be involved in jobs that cannot be performed remotely. The linear regression models suggest a positive moderate and significant correlation between median income and social distancing index (R2 = 0.4981, p-value < 0.001), and a positive weak and significant correlation between median income and remote work (R2 = 0.2460, p-value < 0.001).
Research limitations/implications
Governments need to account for SES in policymaking to reduce inequalities in health.
Originality/value
The paper aims to improve the understanding of social stratification and morbidity through examining data on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords
Citation
Raghunath, N. and Tan, T. (2020), "The impact of social stratification on morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 40 No. 9/10, pp. 793-806. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0261
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited