Sociological Perspectives on Health and Religion

What does sociological imagination emphasize regarding responsibility for illness and disease?

It emphasizes society's influence on health, highlighting systemic factors over individual lifestyle choices.

What are some individual responsibilities related to health?

Lifestyle choices such as smoking, diet, and hygiene.

What societal factors contribute to illness and disease?

Access to healthcare, education, housing, and employment.

Who is at higher risk of infectious diseases?

People from lower socio-economic backgrounds and racialized minority groups.

What are some factors that increase the risk of infectious disease in marginalized groups?

Limited access to healthcare, crowded living conditions, occupational exposure, under-vaccination, and environmental hazards.

How does social inequality affect health?

It patterns health risks based on social determinants such as income, race, education, and geography.

In the scenario of two people with flu from different backgrounds, what advantages does Person A have?

Higher class, private healthcare, paid sick leave, better housing, lower stress, and better nutrition.

What disadvantages does Person B face in the flu scenario?

Lower class, may lack insurance, live in crowded housing, work in high-risk jobs, higher stress, and food insecurity.

What is the biomedical view of medicine?

A medical perspective that emphasizes Western scientific principles and defines health as the absence of illness.

What are criticisms of the biomedical model?

It does not consider individuals' age, socio-economic status, and living conditions.

How has the understanding of health shifted over time?

From a physiological model to a holistic understanding that includes well-being.

What is the World Health Organization's definition of health?

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

What is the bio-psychosocial view of health and illness?

A perspective that considers health and disease as products of the interaction between body, mind, and environment.

How does society shape health?

Through cultural patterns, changing standards of health, technology, and social inequality.

What health improvements occurred in high-income countries due to industrialization?

Gradual improvements in health, despite causing problems like air pollution and crowded cities.

What was the main cause of death a century ago compared to today?

A century ago, infectious diseases were the main cause of death; today, it is often chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

What is the life expectancy difference between low-income nations and Canada?

Life expectancy in low-income nations is 20 years less than in Canada.

What health issues do people in low-income nations face?

Inadequate sanitation, hunger, and lack of nutritious foods linked with poverty.

What does it mean for health to be perceived as passive?

It suggests that treatment and prevention from disease are less emphasized.

What does it mean for illness to be perceived as active?

It indicates that the need for treatment is prioritized and addressed by healthcare workers.

How do cultural patterns influence health?

Cultural definitions of health and standards change over time, affecting health perceptions.

What role does technology play in shaping health?

Society's technology affects people's health by influencing access to resources and healthcare.

What challenges do low-income societies face regarding health?

They lack medical technology to control infectious diseases and have high birth rates.

What is the primary cause of death in low-income societies?

Most people die from infectious diseases.

How is Canada's health status characterized globally?

Canada's health is good by world standards.

What is social epidemiology?

The study of health and disease as distributed throughout a society's population.

What factors are examined in social epidemiology?

The spread of infectious diseases and the connection between health and physical and social environments.

What demographic patterns can be examined in health studies?

Patterns of health can be examined in terms of age, gender, social class, race, etc.

How do men and women differ in terms of health?

Women experience better health compared to men.

What cultural factors contribute to men's health issues?

Cultural definitions of masculinity promote aggressive and individualist behaviors, contributing to higher rates of coronary diseases in men.

How do socio-economic factors affect health differently for men and women?

Socio-economic position, labour force participation, and earned income affect the health and well-being of men and women differently.

What health vulnerabilities do Indigenous children face?

Indigenous children are as vulnerable to disease as those in low-income countries.

What are the health risks faced by Indigenous people?

They are at greater risk of short life span and higher infant mortality rates.

How much more likely are women to suffer from anorexia nervosa compared to men?

Women are 3 times more likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa.

What cultural expectation contributes to eating disorders in women?

The cultural expectation of a skinny female body.

What percentage of Canadian adults suffer from obesity?

23% of Canadian adults suffer from obesity.

What are some social causes linked to obesity?

Less physical activity, long periods of sitting, higher screen time, a diet heavy in salt and fatty foods, and larger meal sizes.

Who is more likely to suffer from obesity?

Low-income people are more likely to suffer from obesity.

What are social determinants of health?

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, shaped by the distribution of money, power, and resources.

What is the impact of social determinants on health inequalities?

They are mostly responsible for unfair and avoidable differences in health status within and between countries.

What factors contribute to the life expectancy difference between a child born in Sierra Leone and one in Australia?

Access to quality healthcare, clean water, better nutrition, education, stable housing, and income in Australia versus limited healthcare, higher infectious disease rates, poor sanitation, and economic instability in Sierra Leone.

What individual factors influence a person's health?

Genetics, age, and sex.

What health behaviors affect health outcomes?

Diet, exercise, smoking, and alcohol use.

What environmental factors influence health?

Housing, pollution, and access to clean water.

What are structural determinants of health?

Root-level societal forces such as socioeconomic and political context, governance, and social stratification that shape health.

What are intermediary determinants of health?

Factors that influence health outcomes through the interaction of structural determinants and individual behaviors.

What are the day-to-day conditions that directly impact health?

Material circumstances, psychosocial factors, health behaviors, biological factors, and health systems.

What are examples of material circumstances affecting health?

Housing, food, and transportation.

What psychosocial factors influence health?

Stress, social support, and mental health.

What health behaviors can impact an individual's health?

Smoking, physical activity, and diet.

What biological factors are considered in health?

Inherited conditions.

How do health systems affect health outcomes?

They provide access to care, insurance, and quality of services.

What is the definition of medicine?

An institutionalized system for the scientific diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness.

What is the role of scientific medicine in the Canadian medical system?

It is the fundamental aspect of the system.

What is medicalization and how does it affect healthcare?

Medicalization refers to the process of defining issues as medical problems, which can lead to the commodification of healthcare.

How do feminist scholars view medicalization?

They argue it emphasizes body appearance, particularly in women.

What is holistic medicine?

A traditional approach that emphasizes prevention of illness and focuses on patients' overall health.

What is the focus of holistic medicine?

Achieving the greatest wellbeing rather than just treating disease.

What characterizes socialized medicine?

It is mostly government-managed, with the government owning and operating most medical facilities.

How does the medical care system in capitalist nations typically operate?

People usually pay for healthcare services directly.

What are some unmet healthcare needs for Canadians?

Long waiting lists, wait times in emergency rooms, shortage of healthcare professionals, and access to dental care.

What is the responsibility of the Canadian government regarding healthcare?

To arrange medical care for all citizens and provide access to universal healthcare.

How does functionalism view health in society?

Health is important for societal stability, and being sick is seen as a temporary role.

What does conflict theory suggest about healthcare?

Healthcare favors the wealthy and powerful, leading to worse health outcomes for marginalized groups.

How does symbolic interactionism analyze health?

Health is shaped by social perceptions and communication between doctors and patients.

What is social constructionism's perspective on illness?

Illness is defined by society, and some behaviors become medicalized over time.

What does the structural functionalist approach suggest about health and social life?

Health, healthcare, and illness are interconnected with changes in other aspects of social life.

Why is good health considered desirable in society?

It allows individuals to be active and productive, benefiting society as a whole.

What is the role of health care in society?

Health care is a social institution responsible for maintaining the well-being of all members in society.

How does illness affect society according to sociologists?

Illness is a form of deviance that threatens the ability of society to function.

What is the 'sick role' according to Talcot Parsons?

The sick role excuses the ill person from doing their defined social roles, which disrupts the social system.

What does conflict theory say about health and medical services?

Health and medical services are unequally distributed among different social groups, largely due to income, economic, and social inequalities.

What are some consequences of health inequalities?

Health inequalities expose vulnerable populations to harm and hinder access to medical services and health-affirming lifestyles.

How does the capitalist economy affect health care delivery?

Problems in the delivery of health care are caused by the capitalist economy, viewing medicine as a commodity that can be produced and sold.

What does the symbolic interactionist approach emphasize regarding health?

It emphasizes the meaning people attach to health and illness, which can vary based on their environment.

How is disability defined in medical terms?

Disability is defined as having a physical or other forms of impairment that reduces a person's ability to perform normal tasks.

What is the social model of disability?

The social model of disability focuses on the collective experience of injustice and the broader context of health, exploring social barriers to inclusion.

What are some disadvantages faced by people with disabilities?

Disadvantages include less access to educational opportunities, discrimination in the labor force, and physical exclusion from public places.

What is diabesity?

Diabesity refers to the relationship between diabetes and obesity, often linked to financial challenges, stigma, and discrimination.

Why do sociologists study religion?

Sociologists study religion because it affects how people live and interact, shaping values, behavior, and laws.

What is Emile Durkheim's definition of religion?

Religion is a social institution that includes beliefs, rituals, and practices based on sacred texts that guide human behavior and unite believers.

What are the four dimensions of religion according to Durkheim?

The four dimensions are faith, rituals, spiritual experience, and community.

How does religion promote social control?

Religion promotes social control by establishing norms and values that guide behavior within a society.

What is one key function of religion in society according to structural functionalists?

One key function is to increase social cohesion by bringing people together.

What are some ways religion can be dysfunctional in society?

Religion can divide people, lead to conflict, stop social progress, treat some unfairly, and create tension in diverse communities.

What is the significance of rituals in religion?

Rituals reinforce religious teachings and create a connection between worshippers and the supernatural.

What is the role of community in religion?

Community forms a unified moral group, fulfilling one of the key social functions of religion.

How does religion help explain societal changes?

Religion helps understand changes in society, such as the trend of people becoming less religious.

What does the term 'sacred' refer to in the context of religion?

The sacred refers to things that are set apart and treated with reverence, distinct from the profane.

What is the relationship between health and social inequalities?

Health inequalities are largely a result of social inequalities, affecting access to medical services and health outcomes.

How does the definition of health vary among different cultures?

People define health and illness differently based on their cultural environment and social context.

What do critics argue about structural functionalists and religion?

Critics argue that structural functionalists ignore the aspect that religion might cause conflict.

How do nations often engage in war in relation to religion?

Nations often march to war under the banner of their God.

What does a study of conflict claim about religious beliefs?

It claims that religious beliefs have provoked more violence than social class differences.

What is Karl Marx's view of religion?

He described religion as the 'opium of the people,' diverting attention from inequalities.

How does religion serve the elite according to the social conflict approach?

Religion legitimizes the status quo.

What role does religion play in providing meaning to believers?

Religion provides special meaning to believers and enhances the difference between sacred and profane through rituals.

How do symbolic interactionists view religion?

They explain religion as a socially constructed meaning system that gives believers certainty and security.

What is a key question feminist theory raises about religion?

Feminist views question the gendered nature of religious practices.

Do all religions allow women to be religious leaders?

No, some religions allow women to lead while others, like Catholicism, usually do not.