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York academic wins prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize

York academic wins prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize

Posted on 30 October 2017

A University of York academic has received a prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize to continue his research into health inequalities.

Dr Tim Huijts, a Senior Lecturer in York’s Department of Sociology, will use the £100,000 award to examine how people’s health is affected by insecurity in their jobs, housing and relationships.

Philip Leverhulme Prizes, awarded by the Leverhulme Trust, recognise the achievement of outstanding researchers whose work has already attracted international recognition and whose future career is exceptionally promising.

Professor Paul Johnson, Head of York’s Department of Sociology, said: “I am delighted that Tim Huijts has been awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize. This is a significant and prestigious award, and is given in recognition of Tim's outstanding research.”

Dr Huijts’ research focuses on social inequalities in health from a comparative perspective. He examines why health inequalities are much stronger in some countries than in others, and whether health inequalities can be reduced by social policy and health policy.

Dr Huijts said: “People’s health is influenced by their incomes, their education, and their families. However, how important these factors are exactly depends on the policies, norms and values of the country people live in.

“As a next step, I want to examine how people’s health is affected by having insecurity in their jobs, housing, and relationships. Many people now face insecurity, but it is not clear yet how dealing with different kinds of insecurity impacts health.

“Also, can policies on work and housing make insecurity less harmful for health? The Philip Leverhulme Prize allows me to examine this together with leading international scientists.”

Dr Huijts has published studies on topics including socioeconomic inequalities in health, family and health, social ties and health, political regimes and health, gender equity and depression, and ethnic diversity and social cohesion.

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