Is there a link between social class and mental illness?

Introduction
1 in 4 adults in the UK experience a mental illness every year (Mind, 2014). With such a high prevalence of mental disorders, it is necessary to establish potential causes of them. The working class have less opportunities and life chances than classes higher than them (Timmins, 2010). It is therefore possible that there is a link between social class and mental illnesses. Previous research has indicated that there are links between mood disorders and poverty, as well as alcohol and substance abuse (Murali and Oyebode, 2004). However, this research stated that there had been little work done into links between personality disorders and the lower classes. Furthermore, this research was conducted around ten years ago, and is undoubtedly dated. More research in the field would be required in order to establish a link between social class and mental illnesses. Furthermore, the Health Survey for England also conducted research into the links between poverty and mental illness in 2008 and 2009 (The Poverty Site, 2014). While the data was updated in 2011, it would still be considered out of date. In addition, the research merely presents that there is a link, without exploring why. More research in the field would be required in order to explore the reasons for the link between social class and mental illnesses. In order to establish a method suitable for this research, it must first be considered whether the research is inductive or deductive. Deductive takes a theory and forms a hypothesis, and look for very specific results. This type of research is quantitative. Inductive research, however, is the opposite, and begins with specific data such as observation. From this, the researcher would build up a theory based on the patterns they have researched, thus developing their specific observation to a general theory. Inductive research is qualitative, which often works on a smaller sample size than quantitative. The research into links between mental illnesses and social class will be deductive, and therefore, quantitative. There are advantages and disadvantages to both qualitative data and quantitative data. On one hand, quantitative data allows for a larger sample, and therefore more results, but the results are not in depth, and a series of figures does not explore reasons behind the figures, such as personal reactions to the questions being asked. Qualitative data does allow this more in-depth approach, and provides more information relating to the individual being studied, however, qualitative research does not allow for large samples. With the research being deductive and quantitative, it will be conducted through a questionnaire. This allows for a numerical scale and closed questions, making the questionnaire much more accessible to participants on a time schedule. Furthermore, this allows for a larger sample, and therefore, more results.

In order for the results of the research to be credible, they must be both reliable and valid. Reliability refers to the production of stable and consistent results (Phelan, Wren, 2005-6). In terms of reliability, the study is being conducted externally, to minimalize the interference of researchers. However, due to the nature of questionnaires, it must be considered that social desirability may come into effect with participants giving the answers they believe the researcher is after. Validity refers to the measurements used in the study (Phelan, Wren, 2005-6). In the case of this study, a suitable measurement for social class will be needed. It will need to be determined what working class is, and take into account participants who are considered working class by the measurements laid out in the study, but do not consider themselves to be working class. Furthermore, there is the potential issue that participants may be untruthful about their social class in order to seem more socially desirable or due to embarrassment. Care must be taken to minimalize these situations. Further research into social class and mental illness is required as links have been established between the two, but not explored in depth, and whether or not certain mental illnesses are exclusive to certain social classes. There is little research on why there are links between social class and mental illnesses, which should therefore be researched with more depth. With further knowledge on why there are links between social class and mental illness, preventative measures could be taken in the future. The results of the research are expected to show that a lower social class equals a higher risk of mental illness, and that mental illnesses are more prevalent amongst the lower social classes. Furthermore, illnesses such as depression and anxiety are expected to be shown as more prevalent amongst lower classes, due to such issues as economic worries and reduced life chances. It is expected that illnesses such as eating disorders will be more prevalent amongst middle to upper classes, where food is not scarce as money is not tight. Overall, the study is expected to greatly establish the link between social class and mental illness.

Method
Design
The study will be deductive and therefore quantitative. The independent variables will be that each participant receives the same questionnaire, with the same questions on it. The dependant variables will be the participants, as the participants are unlikely to all have the same mental illness, and unlikely to all come from the same social class and background.

Participants
There will be three hundred participants, chosen via a convenience sample. This will be conducted by contacting doctors or therapists who have patients with mental illnesses, and asking them to distribute the questionnaire amongst their patients who consent to the research. This does, however, mean the researchers cannot control the age range or genders of participants, which has potential to show biased results. However, the convenience sampling does work in the favour of anonymity, as the researchers will not know who was involved in the study, and therefore cannot release their details. This works well as the participants are regarded as vulnerable adults.

Apparatus and Materials

The questionnaire will use two types of questions, closed questions and questions on the likert scale. This makes the data quicker to analyse than if open questions had been used, and therefore allows for much more data to be processed. Furthermore, the usage of closed questions and the likert scale will potentially make the participants feel confident that their identity will be protected.

Procedure
A small pilot study should be conducted prior to the main research involving three hundred participants, to ensure that the sampling method and questionnaire achieve the desired results. Medical practises must then be contacted in order to gain access to the group being studied. The mentally ill fall under the category of vulnerable adults, and therefore extra care is needed when conducting the research. Consent will be essential, and as the illnesses under focus do not generally diminish an individuals competence, should be unproblematic. Furthermore, not all participants regarded as vulnerable will consider themselves so, and care must be taken in order to avoid labelling participants. Individuals may wish not to participate due to the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, as well as social class, and this must be respected. Once consent has been given and the participant has filled out the questionnaire, it is to be treated as confidential. Though names and personal details will not be on the questionnaires in order to ensure anonymity, the data is to be kept in a locked filling cabinet, only accessible by the researchers. This is to ensure that data about the participants is not leaked, and that the identity and details of all participants, is protected. Word Count: 1,260