Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil
Abstract The association between contextual factors and health inequalities is well documented, also in Brazil. However, questions about how contextual factors actually affect health and well-being persist. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how contextual factors—i.e., social stratifi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-06-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-020-01196-2 |
| _version_ | 1818497077951332352 |
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| author | Natalia Vincens Martin Stafström Efigênia Ferreira Maria Emmelin |
| author_facet | Natalia Vincens Martin Stafström Efigênia Ferreira Maria Emmelin |
| author_sort | Natalia Vincens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The association between contextual factors and health inequalities is well documented, also in Brazil. However, questions about how contextual factors actually affect health and well-being persist. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how contextual factors—i.e., social stratification and neighborhood opportunity structures—are manifested in the lives of the residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil. We used a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach based on 12 in-depth interviews. The core category constructing social identity through multiple “us and them” is supported by eight main categories that characterize different pairs of “us and them”, based on internal and external aspects of the social processes involved. Our findings strengthen and support the links between contextual factors and health inequalities, highlighting the relevance of downward social comparison, territorial segregation and stigmatization and erosion of social capital in the construction of social identities and the manifestation of social hierarchies and neighborhood structures in the Brazilian context. Ultimately, these create shame and stress but also pride and empowerment, which are recognized determinants of health inequities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:40:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5028009b642740f4b8638c50fb12c416 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-9276 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:40:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Equity in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5028009b642740f4b8638c50fb12c4162022-12-22T01:37:40ZengBMCInternational Journal for Equity in Health1475-92762020-06-0119111310.1186/s12939-020-01196-2Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in BrazilNatalia Vincens0Martin Stafström1Efigênia Ferreira2Maria Emmelin3Division of Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund UniversityDivision of Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund UniversityDepartment of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Federal University of Minas GeraisDivision of Social Medicine and Global Health, Department of Clinical Sciences in Malmö, Lund UniversityAbstract The association between contextual factors and health inequalities is well documented, also in Brazil. However, questions about how contextual factors actually affect health and well-being persist. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how contextual factors—i.e., social stratification and neighborhood opportunity structures—are manifested in the lives of the residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil. We used a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach based on 12 in-depth interviews. The core category constructing social identity through multiple “us and them” is supported by eight main categories that characterize different pairs of “us and them”, based on internal and external aspects of the social processes involved. Our findings strengthen and support the links between contextual factors and health inequalities, highlighting the relevance of downward social comparison, territorial segregation and stigmatization and erosion of social capital in the construction of social identities and the manifestation of social hierarchies and neighborhood structures in the Brazilian context. Ultimately, these create shame and stress but also pride and empowerment, which are recognized determinants of health inequities.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-020-01196-2InequitySocial determinants of healthSocial identityGrounded theory |
| spellingShingle | Natalia Vincens Martin Stafström Efigênia Ferreira Maria Emmelin Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil International Journal for Equity in Health Inequity Social determinants of health Social identity Grounded theory |
| title | Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil |
| title_full | Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil |
| title_short | Constructing social identity through multiple “us and them”: a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in Brazil |
| title_sort | constructing social identity through multiple us and them a grounded theory study of how contextual factors are manifested in the lives of residents of a vulnerable district in brazil |
| topic | Inequity Social determinants of health Social identity Grounded theory |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12939-020-01196-2 |
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