ch 18 - Sociology of Health and Illness

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to sociology, health, and illness.

Obesity

Excessive body weight, indicated by a BMI over 30.

BMI (Body Mass Index)

A measure of body fat based on weight and height.

Food Deserts

Geographic areas where residents don't have easy access to high quality affordable food.

Sociology of the Body

Field that focuses on how our health and illness are affected by social and cultural influences.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being rather than merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Sick Role

Term used by functionalist Talcott Parsons to describe patterns of behavior that a sick person adopts to minimize the disruptive impact of their illness on others.

Stigma

Any physical or social characteristic that is labeled by society as undesirable.

Health Disparities

Inequalities in health, healthcare, and health behaviors across different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

Social Epidemiology

Study of the distribution and incidence of disease and illness within a population.

Health Literacy

One's capacity to obtain, process, and understand the basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.

Vaccine Hesitancy

The reluctance or refusal to have oneself or one's children vaccinated.

Socialization of Nature

The process by which we control phenomena regarded as 'natural', such as reproduction.

Procreative Technology

Techniques for influencing the human reproductive process.