Where are the Irish in research on ethnic health inequalities in Britain? A state-of-the-art literature review
Where are the Irish in research on ethnic health inequalities in Britain? A state-of-the-art literature review
Decisions about ethnic groups studied in health research shape recommendations. If a group is not included in research, its ability to call for policy change is limited. Despite health inequalities for the Irish in Britain in the 20th century, recent research on health is likely to combine the White Irish with White British, whereas Irish people of colour are not mentioned at all. This paper aims to understand why the interest in this group has declined. A state-of-the-art literature review of 140 papers on Irish health in Britain from 2001 to 2023 was conducted. Findings show the Irish are still disadvantaged in mortality, mental health and suicide, with important socioeconomic status and gender disparities. The shifting way the Irish are constructed over time is critically examined, paying attention to historical depictions and postcolonial identities. Sociological theories of migration are challenged by the Irish because this migrant group does not conform to theoretical assumptions. The Irish may have dropped from the agenda because of incorrect assumptions about assimilation and the relationship between Ireland and the UK. Given that the health outcomes of the Irish in Britain differ from those of the White British population, they should be recognised in health research as a distinct group.
Britain, Critical, Health, Irish, Migration, Review, critical, review, migration, health
Willis, Rosalind
dd2e5e10-58bf-44ca-9c04-f355f3af26ba
January 2025
Willis, Rosalind
dd2e5e10-58bf-44ca-9c04-f355f3af26ba
Willis, Rosalind
(2025)
Where are the Irish in research on ethnic health inequalities in Britain? A state-of-the-art literature review.
Sociology of Health & Illness, 47 (1), [e13874].
(doi:10.1111/1467-9566.13874).
Abstract
Decisions about ethnic groups studied in health research shape recommendations. If a group is not included in research, its ability to call for policy change is limited. Despite health inequalities for the Irish in Britain in the 20th century, recent research on health is likely to combine the White Irish with White British, whereas Irish people of colour are not mentioned at all. This paper aims to understand why the interest in this group has declined. A state-of-the-art literature review of 140 papers on Irish health in Britain from 2001 to 2023 was conducted. Findings show the Irish are still disadvantaged in mortality, mental health and suicide, with important socioeconomic status and gender disparities. The shifting way the Irish are constructed over time is critically examined, paying attention to historical depictions and postcolonial identities. Sociological theories of migration are challenged by the Irish because this migrant group does not conform to theoretical assumptions. The Irish may have dropped from the agenda because of incorrect assumptions about assimilation and the relationship between Ireland and the UK. Given that the health outcomes of the Irish in Britain differ from those of the White British population, they should be recognised in health research as a distinct group.
Text
Authors accepted Irish health lit review
- Accepted Manuscript
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Online Appendix 1 List of 140 Refs
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Online Appendix 2 summary table of 140 refs
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Online Appendix 3 Search strategy tables
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 6 December 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 2 January 2025
Published date: January 2025
Additional Information:
© 2025 The Author(s). Sociology of Health & Illness published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness.
Keywords:
Britain, Critical, Health, Irish, Migration, Review, critical, review, migration, health
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 497008
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/497008
ISSN: 0141-9889
PURE UUID: 3112a807-6fba-429b-81d6-24dde6e32f86
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Date deposited: 09 Jan 2025 18:03
Last modified: 28 Aug 2025 01:49
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