Deprivation Amplification Revisited
Author Information
Author(s): Sally Macintyre
Primary Institution: MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, UK
Hypothesis
Is it always true that poorer places have poorer access to resources for healthy diets and physical activity?
Conclusion
The study suggests that poorer neighborhoods may not always lack health-promoting resources and that the quality and social meaning of resources may be more important than their mere presence.
Supporting Evidence
- Access to green spaces is better in poorer areas of Glasgow.
- Fast food outlets are not concentrated in poorer residential areas but are found in business districts.
- Supermarkets may be more accessible in deprived neighborhoods than previously thought.
Takeaway
Sometimes, poorer areas have better access to parks and playgrounds than richer areas, and just because a place is poor doesn't mean it has no healthy food options.
Limitations
The study acknowledges that the presence of resources does not guarantee they are of good quality or perceived as accessible by local residents.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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