Sociology of health and illness

Sociology of Health and Illness is a sub-discipline of sociology that focuses on the social effects of, and public attitudes toward, illnesses, diseases, mental health and the functioning of the healthcare system.

Overview

The Sociology of Health and Illness examines the interaction between society and health. The objective of this topic is to understand health and illness in social context, and how the social world influences health outcomes. It also studies how health and illness itself can change social structures.

History

The study of the Sociology of Health and Illness can be traced back to the late 19th century with the work of Émile Durkheim, who was interested in the effect of social factors on health. The field has since expanded and now encompasses a wide range of topics, including the study of epidemiology, health and illness behavior, health and illness in the social structure, and health care systems and practices.

Key Concepts

Health Disparities

Health disparities refer to differences in health outcomes and their determinants between segments of the population. These disparities can be due to a variety of factors, including socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and gender.

Medicalization

Medicalization is the process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical problems. This can include issues such as mental health, aging, and even everyday problems like stress.

Social Construction of Illness

The social construction of illness is a major research perspective in medical sociology. This area of study examines how society, culture, and history shape the definition, experience, and treatment of illness.

See Also

• Medical Sociology
• Public Health
• Social Epidemiology
• Health Psychology