Sociological Perspectives on Health and Illness

Health Continuum: Health is often viewed on a continuum, with health at one end and death on the other.
WHO Definition (1946): Defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
Social Construction: Health and illness are shaped by cultural and social perceptions; individuals may define their health status based on personal and social influences.

Authority Figures: Definitions of health are influenced by various stakeholders (healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, food providers).
Implications: Who defines health can greatly affect social perceptions of illness and the consequences of being labeled as sick.

Role of Illness: Illness disrupts social interactions; society needs to manage who is considered sick.
Sick Role: Introduced by Talcott Parsons, the sick role involves:
- Exemption from normal responsibilities.
- Obligation to seek medical care and attempt recovery.
Social Stability: Sickness is viewed as a dysfunctional state that needs control to maintain societal stability.
Gatekeeping by Physicians: Doctors determine whether someone fits the sick role, thereby reinforcing social norms about health.
Critiques of the Sick Role:
- Influenced by age, gender, and social class (e.g., varying perceptions of health in different demographics).
- More applicable to short-term illnesses than chronic ones.
- Occupation impacts recognition of illness (e.g., athletes may see injuries as part of the sport).

Medicalization of Society: Sociology theorist Elliot Friedson discussed how medicine operates as social control—it defines health and maintains authority over health-related matters.
Expansion of Medical Domain: Medicine has expanded to encompass a wide range of social issues, not just physical ailments.
Healthcare Inequities:
- Medical resources are often concentrated in wealthier areas, causing disparities in healthcare availability.
- For example, the U.S. has 26 physicians per 10,000 people, while African nations average fewer than 2.
Brain Drain: Skilled healthcare workers often immigrate to developed nations, creating a shortage in their home countries, which exacerbates global health disparities.
Life Expectancy and Health Inequity: Significant disparities in life expectancy and infant mortality rates exist, often influenced by economic conditions and healthcare access.

Active Role of Patients: Patients engage with healthcare systems rather than being passive recipients of treatment.
Physician-Patient Dynamics:
- Medical roles are learned through socialization (e.g., training of doctors).
- Technology (like electronic health records) affects doctor-patient interaction, potentially reducing personal engagement during visits.

Social Definition: Health conditions are often socially defined by the medical profession.
Impact of Labels: Labels influence how individuals are treated by society and how they perceive themselves.
Historical Context: Example of how racial and social dynamics led to discriminatory labeling of health (e.g., slavery viewed as a form of illness).
Modern Concerns: Digital medical records can stigmatize individuals and affect their social identity.
Controversial Labels: Conditions (like PMS, PTSD) raised scrutiny regarding whether they should be classified as medical illnesses.
Homosexuality: Historically labeled as a mental illness, showcasing how social constructs of normalcy evolve and influence societal perceptions.

Brain Drain: Migration of skilled workers from developing countries to developed ones.
Health: A condition of complete well-being.
Infant Mortality Rate: Deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births.
Labeling Theory: The idea that the labels society assigns influence perceptions of individuals.
Medical Model: A framework for understanding illness based on biological and physical factors.
Sick Role: The expected behavior and responsibilities of a person identified as ill.