Social Networks and Health Inequalities in Young and Middle Adulthood

Abstract

In this chapter we deal with the health and inequality aspects of networks from a psychological and sociological life span perspective. In doing so, we pay attention to the mutual interactions between health, social inequality, and networks in the context of biographical transitions that decisively shape the life course of adults. We focus exclusively on young and middle adulthood—here roughly defined as the age span between 20 and 60 years. We introduce the disciplinary perspectives and paradigms that deal with the topic of networks and health inequalities in different phases of life. We present theories that describe interactions between these concepts, and we summarize the state of research on the relationships between social and health inequalities, networks and health, and inequalities, networks, and health. We conclude with a summary and some desiderata for future research.