Health And Illness In A Changing Society

Health and illness are intensely personal matters. It seems self evident that health is a basic necessity of the 'good life', though it is often taken for granted. Illness, on the other hand challenges our sense of security and may introduce acute anxiety into our lives. Health and Illness in a Changing Society provides a lively and critical account of the impact of social change on the experience of health and illness. It also examines the different sociological perspectives that have been used to analyse health matters. While some of the ideas developed in the last twenty years remain relevant to social research in health today, many are in need of urgent revision.

Health and illness are intensely personal matters. It seems self evident that health is a basic necessity of the 'good life', though it is often taken for granted. Illness, on the other hand challenges our sense of security and may introduce acute anxiety into our lives. Health and Illness in a Changing Society provides a lively and critical account of the impact of social change on the experience of health and illness. It also examines the different sociological perspectives that have been used to analyse health matters. While some of the ideas developed in the last twenty years remain relevant to social research in health today, many are in need of urgent revision.

Health and illness underpin our everyday existence. Health allows us to live full lives and to function as social beings; illness disrupts our lives, sometimes seriously. But health not only affects individuals, it also impacts upon society as a whole. Medical breakthroughs and scandals, health scares and health service problems all vie for the attention of politicians and public alike. Michael Bury provides a lively introduction to the sociology of health and illness for students approaching the topic for the first time. Drawing on classic writings and up-to-date research, he discusses the conceptualization and patterning of health and illness in contemporary society. He highlights a range of factors, such as gender, age, ethnicity and class, which influence the occurrence and distribution of illness over time. The book then focuses on debates about the body, the role of health services and the politics of health policy. In conclusion, Bury argues that we must take a dynamic view of health and illness as processes that are shaped by social circumstances and altering perceptions. This short introduction will be essential reading for all students studying the sociology of health as part of their degree programme.

-Rick Thomas brings his 30 years experience in the field to the text making it very applied and accessible. -Lots of boxed material. -"Recommended" purchase for all librarians as reviewed in the June 2004 issue of CHOICE.

Clear and concise - integrates recent research with the social determinants of health to provide a comprehensive introduction to medical sociology

Over the past half-century, the social terrain of health and illness has been transformed. What were once considered normal human events and common human problems—birth, aging, menopause, alcoholism, and obesity—are now viewed as medical conditions. For better or worse, medicine increasingly permeates aspects of daily life. Building on more than three decades of research, Peter Conrad explores the changing forces behind this trend with case studies of short stature, social anxiety, "male menopause," erectile dysfunction, adult ADHD, and sexual orientation. He examines the emergence of and changes in medicalization, the consequences of the expanding medical domain, and the implications for health and society. He finds in recent developments—such as the growing number of possible diagnoses and biomedical enhancements—the future direction of medicalization. Conrad contends that the impact of medical professionals on medicalization has diminished. Instead, the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries, insurance companies and HMOs, and the patient as consumer have become the major forces promoting medicalization. This thought-provoking study offers valuable insight into not only how medicalization got to this point but also how it may continue to evolve.

The Health and Society Reader: Health and Disease in a Changing Environment provides students with both an introduction to the sociological study of health and disease and a contemporary view of critical issues in the field. The anthology is divided into seven sections. Sections I and II contain engaging, thought-provoking readings on medical sociology and the social causes of health disparities, including inequality, gender, and veteran status. Section III examines demographic shifts and health, helping readers better understand the relationship between aging and health and migration and healthcare access. In Sections IV and V, students read about family support and mental health, the correlation between religion, stress, and health, doctor-patient interactions, and social capital and health. Closing sections address the impact of neighborhoods on health, medical tourism, global health, and environment, risk, and health. Featuring informative and accessible articles, The Health and Society Reader is an ideal resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in medical sociology, sociology of health and illness, and social determinants of health. It can be also be used as a supplemental text for courses in psychology, anthropology, nursing, social work, and other health-related fields. Fernando I. Rivera is a professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida. He holds a Ph.D. and a M.A. in sociology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Rivera has established an ongoing research program in the fields of medical sociology/sociology of health, race and ethnicity, and the sociology of disasters. Hyung Sam Park is an associate lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Central Florida. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pittsburgh, PA. He has taught courses on health and illness, the environment, social problems, social networks, and quantitative methods.

Disease is an ever-present threat faced by all human societies. Today, this concept has become an influential area of study known as the global burden of disease, which encompasses contemporary health concerns such as the economic costs of disease, the societal impact of illness in developing nations, and infectious diseases resulting from lifestyl