Health Problems as Social Issues

A collection of vocabulary flashcards designed to help students understand key concepts from the lecture on health as a social issue.

Sociological Imagination

A sociological process to analyze issues, linking personal troubles to public issues, coined by C.W. Mills.

Life Expectancy (LE)

The average number of years a person is expected to live, which varies greatly between countries and social groups.

Social Determinants of Health

Social and economic environments that influence health, like housing and job security.

Social Structure

The recurring patterns of social interaction that influence people's relationships.

Health Sociology

The study of social factors that influence health and illness.

Biomedical Model

A medical framework that focuses on biological factors as the primary causes of illness.

Reductionism

The belief that illnesses can be fully explained by biological and pathological factors.

Victim Blaming

A process where social inequality is interpreted as the result of individual failings.

Social Institutions

Formal structures within society organized to meet social needs, such as healthcare and education.

Epidemiology

The statistical study of patterns of disease in populations.

Biopsychosocial Model

A multifactorial model of illness accounting for biological, psychological, and social factors.

Social Epidemiology

A subfield of sociology that focuses on social determinants of illness.

Objectification

The reduction of patients to mere subjects for scientific measurement, ignoring their subjective experiences.

Cultural Context

The influence of cultural values and norms on health behaviors and experiences.

Agency

The ability of individuals to make choices and influence their own lives within social structures.

Structural Inequality

A condition where social structures result in unequal access to resources and opportunities.

Critical Factors

Alternatives to the status quo; issues needing focus to improve health outcomes.