SOCIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND THEORY

IN RELATION TO CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL

AND HEALTH ISSUES

CONTENTS

Definitions
Sociological concepts of health and well being.
Implications of social and health issues for health and
social care providers.
Impacts of social and health issues on the health and
wellbeing of people.
Summary
Refernces

DEFINITIONS

Healthrefers to the extent of a persons physical,

mental, and social well-being.
The termdiseasebroadly refers to any condition that
impairs the normal functioning of the body.
Illness refer specifically to the patient's personal
experience of his or her disease.
Disabilityis the consequence of an impairment that
may be physical, cognitive, mental, or some
combination of these that result in restrictions on an
individual's ability to participate in what is considered
"normal" in their everyday society.

SOCIOLOGICAL CONCEPTS OF HEALTH AND WELL BEING.

Theoritical perspectives of sociology influencing health

and social care:
Functionalism
Conflict theory
Symbolic interactionism

FUNCTIONALISM
Good health and effective medical care are essential
for the smooth functioning of society.
Patients must perform the sick role in order to be
perceived as legitimately ill
The physician-patient relationship is hierarchical:
The physician provides instructions, and
The patient needs to follow them.

CONFLICT THEORY

Social inequality characterizes the quality of health

and social care.
People from poor social backgrounds are more likely to
become ill and to receive inadequate health care.
Capitalism is the causes of inequality.
Who have more money, gets better healthcare and
treatment.

SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

Health and illness aresocial constructions.

Physical and mental conditions have little or
no objective reality.
People are considered healthy or ill
conditions only if they are defined as such by
a society.
Physicians manage the situation to display
their authority and medical knowledge.

IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH ISSUES

FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROVIDERS.

Significant change in behaviour of the people.

Communication between the health professional and
patients.
Taking care of a senior is quite difficult due to their
different needs.
Nuclear families and single parent families are a large
proportion of the total population now.

IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH ISSUES

FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROVIDERS.

Coping with these diverse diseases like H1N1 flu and

Zika virus.
Serving disabled people who usually don't get equal
chance to get formal education, healthcare, and dont
have a higher life expectancy.
Dealing with social constructs.

IMPACTS OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH ISSUES ON THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIETY

Social impacts reflect changes to attitudes, values,

beliefs and behaviour, and contribute to wellbeing.
people who are less well off have substantially shorter
life expectancy and more illnesses than the rich.
Obesity can be looked at like a social factor in health
and wellbeing when it comes to eating.
Class structure is also more involved in health care.
Socio-economic status can play a role in health care.

IMPACTS OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH ISSUES ON THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF INDIVIDUALS IN SOCIETY

Expectations of male and female behaviour that

societal construct defines.
Socialisation affects the development of social norms
and values, views of right and wrong, manners and
behaviour.
Lifestyles, hobbies, work and home life all have an
impact on our health and wellbeing.
There are high rates of teenage conceptions, sexually
transmitted infections and obesity issues.

SUMMARY

Sociology its fields and aspects influencing the health

and social care context.
Society and its relationships with social care context
that shapes people's expectations.
Social and health issues are related to health and
social care sector.
The effects of social inequalities prevailing in the
society.

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