When our first module was implemented in the 7th round of the European Social Survey (ESS) in 2014, it became the first health survey, which included rich questions on the stratification systems of societies. This allowed us to look identify the deeper mechanisms linking social inequality with health. You can read more about the concept of first module in a publication in the European Sociological Review from 2016.

Theoretical and methodological developments 

The survey has led to theoretical and methodological developments and new empirical evidence on how societies and welfare systems shape our living conditions and our mental and physical health.

Read more about this:

• The First Pan-European Sociological Health Inequalities Survey of the General Population: The European Social Survey Rotating Module on the Social Determinants of Health
• Our special issue of The European Journal of Public Health

Monitoring Health Inequalities

As part of Round 7 of the ESS, Terje Andreas Eikemo together with Johan Mackenbach, Clare Bambra, Olle Lundberg and Tim Huijts successfully developed a rotating health module that provides a comprehensive and comparative pan-European dataset on the social determinants of health and health inequalities. 

Results of the first model

The first module has been used in almost 100 peer-reviewed publications in the international research community since its implementation and the results have also led to policy developments. For example, we were invited to present the results to the European Health Commissionaire on two occasions.

Taking part of the 11th round

By repeating the module in the 11th round in 2022, the ESS will become a key data source for the evaluation of the social, economic, and health-related consequences of the corona-crisis, and this is of course what we intend to do.