Type 3 Material Environment and Resource Distribution

 

 

Food poverty

Elizabeth Dowler (2002) claims that economic constraints contribute to the unhealthy food choices observed amoung low socio-economic groups. She claims that food price variations can be quite marked, reporting that households on benefits would have to spend 25% more of their income on food if they could not get to a large supermarket due to the inability to afford transport and as previously seen diet is an important contributing factor for positive mental health.

Poverty
 
Studies have shown that poverty and social exclusion increase risk of mental distress and therefore depression.Harrison et al (1998) identified a strong correlation between depression and deprived locations. In connection with this Lynch et al (1997) found that people living in 'economic hardhip' on a long term basis were more likely to suffer depression than those not living in economic hardship. While it could be argued that depression has caused economic hardhip the study found 'little evidence of reverse causation' (Lynch et al 1997, cited in Payne, S 2006).