Sociological Description on Health and Illness †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Sociological Description on Health. Answer: Introduction The sociological description on health and illness signifies the interaction between the health and society. Particularly, it describes the impact of society on mortality and morbidity rates. Similarly, it identifies the impact of both morbidity and mortality rates on the social life. Such discipline has the clear focus on the health and illness in referring to the social institutions, such as school, family, religion, and work as the major reasons behind the illness (World Health Organization, 2014). The perceptions of the society influence the health determinants. It is notable that the health illness was merely attributed to the natural or biological conditions. The sociological theories are concerned with the identification of the factors residing within the society that influence the health illness (Berkman, Kawachi Glymour, 2014). The biologists have presented the clear demonstration on the spreading nature of the diseases that is highly influenced by an individuals socioecono mic status. In addition to this, it even depends on the traditions and beliefs as well as the other cultural factors. The study would thus discuss the sociological concerns related to the health determinants. The study would also specify the difference between the sociological theories and the medical model. Discussion The extensive research on the health sociology signifies that the social environment has the clear and recognizable impact on the health determinants. It has been signified that apart from the medical issues, the health sickness of the individuals is highly influenced by the social policies and perceptions. The social model of health is formulated from the social model of disability that is advocated by the disability rights movement (Benach et al., 2014). The social model of health is formulated from the social model of disability that is advocated by the disability rights movement. The development of this social model of disability is the traditional approach to the medical model. The medical model is quote different to the sociological theories related to the health determinants (Braveman Gottlieb, 2014). The development of this social model of disability is the traditional approach to the medical model. The medical model is quote different to the sociological theories related to the health determinants. The sociological theory identifies the inequalities and the social determinants that are causing the health illness among the individuals in the society. In the study of Epidemiology, the distribution of the mortality and morbidity is clearly portrayed. According to Marmot Allen (2014), Epidemiologists are extensively focusing on the disease patterns and the group of victims. In fact, they are paying more attention in identifying the effects of the related interventions. The perceptions of the society influence the health determinants. Some of the health diseases like Eating disorder, extra consumption of alcohol, mental or physical disabilities are much influenced by the societal perspectives (Johnston, Fanzo Cogill, 2014). The sociological perspectives on health and illness are described further in detail. There are four major concepts associated with the sociological perspectives on the health determinants. First is Functional Perspectives, which depicts that the illness is one form of deviance that affects the social functions of the society. Structuralism is the sociological theory that presents the views of society elements as a part of self-supporting structure (Cockerham, 2014). Functionalism explains the societal perspectives in terms of the health illness in a specific society. The functionalist theorists like Herbert Spencer, Auguste Comte, Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton, and others have pointed out the complexities in the society to promote stability and solidarity. The functionalism framework perceives society as the complex system that has the significant impact on the social structure (Allen et al., 2014). Parson argued that the most effective process of understanding sociological health illness is to describe it as the emblem of deviance, which creates obstacle in the soc ial functionalities. Many of the critics even have argued the view point mentioned in the functionalism theory. Another theory is Conflict Perspective that implies the influence of the political and economical structure. It has been specified that due to the recognizable influence of the political and economic values in the society, the inequalities, social divisions, and conflicts are created (Eldredge et al., 2016). The conflict theory is mostly associated with the Marxist perspective that points out the power of capitalism. As per the theoretical concept, it is notified that capitalism creates the tension among the society people that influence the health illness. On the other hand, C. Wright Mills argued that the social structures are generally created by recognizing conflicts between the diverse people in the society. The unequal distribution of power among the individuals in the society is instigating the health determinants in a significant way. The next conceptual theory is Interactionist Perspective that deals with the social constructed health determinants. The symbolic interactionists investigated about the meaning that has been created during social interactions. According to Castaeda et al., (2015), recognition of the situation is essential during the social interaction. As per the constructivist grounded theory, it has been specified that establishing the linking between the mutual constructivism helps in creating the relation between the researcher and the participants. Poverty, poor housing, social exclusion, and poor health systems are the major reasons behind the health determinants (Ash, 2016). According to the social theorists, the inequality among the individuals in society is also one of the major reasons for the health illness. The quality of life depends on the condition of the country or the society. It is reported that there is the expectancy of life signifies 20 years of gap between the Torres Strait Island and Australian Aboriginal land. In fact, the health determinants even depends on the income rate of the individuals within a society. Even though the government has imposed several policies to tackle socially determined health inequalities, some of the effects are still remaining in the society (Garg, Boynton-Jarrett Dworkin, 2016). The social model of health is formulated from the social model of disability that is advocated by the disability rights movement. The development of this social model of disability is the traditional approach to the medical model. The medical model is quote different to the sociological theories related to the health determinants. The sociological theory identifies the inequalities and the social determinants that are causing the health illness among the individuals in the society. On the other hand, the medical model examines the factors that c ontribute to such health determinants. The medical model helps in preventing the health illness by developing the societal awareness. For example, in current time, the eating disorder is one of the most foreseeable health determinants among the youth group in the society. It is notable that the societal influence has been the major cause behind such eating disorder. The youth group of people is much conscious about their appearance since they usually face the judgments of the society. In order to maintain the health standard, they often consume the lesser amount of foods that increases the health determinants (Berkman, Kawachi Glymour, 2014). Such societal perspectives are invoking the mental health of the young people that are leading them towards health illness recognizably. It is already mentioned that capitalism creates the tension among the society people that influence the health illness. Hence, it can be stated that due to the shortage of money or the unequal income rate, many people in the society are unable to afford adequate food. Due to such lesser consumption of the healthy food, most of the people fac e the challenges in terms of their health illness. Moreover, the inequality residing among the social perceptions are also affecting the mental health of the individuals (Garg, Boynton-Jarrett Dworkin, 2016). The medical model is examining the process of preventing such issues to develop the societal constructivism. In fact, it is necessary to reduce the social stratification to develop the better health approaches and eliminate the determinants in the society. Conclusion Social stratification and societal perspectives are the key elements that instigate the health determinants among the individuals. The perceptions of the society influence the health determinants. The sociological theories are concerned with the identification of the factors residing within the society that influence the health illness. The functionalism framework perceives society as the complex system that has the significant impact on the social structure. On the other hand, the medical model examines such factors and identifies the method of mitigating such social issues. The critics and arguments presented by the different theorists specify the social influence upon the youth group. Eating disorder is one of the most common health determinant recognized within a society. It was noticed that the societal perspectives invokes the mental health of the young group. They often skip consuming adequate food which causes the health illness. Moreover, the inequality maintained in the soc iety is also sometimes affecting the health factors of the individuals. The social model of health is formulated from the social model of disability that is advocated by the disability rights movement. The development of this social model of disability is the traditional approach to the medical model. The medical model is quote different to the sociological theories related to the health determinants. References Allen, J., Balfour, R., Bell, R., Marmot, M. (2014). Social determinants of mental health.International Review of Psychiatry,26(4), 392-407. Ash, A. S. (2016). Medical, Social, and Other Determinants of Health Care Costs in MassHealth. Benach, J., Vives, A., Amable, M., Vanroelen, C., Tarafa, G., Muntaner, C. (2014). Precarious employment: understanding an emerging social determinant of health.Annual review of public health,35. Berkman, L. F., Kawachi, I., Glymour, M. M. (Eds.). (2014).Social epidemiology. Oxford University Press. Braveman, P., Gottlieb, L. (2014). The social determinants of health: it's time to consider the causes of the causes.Public Health Reports,129., 19-31. Castaeda, H., Holmes, S. M., Madrigal, D. S., Young, M. E. D., Beyeler, N., Quesada, J. (2015). Immigration as a social determinant of health.Annual review of public health,36, 375-392. Cockerham, W. C. (2014).Medical sociology. John Wiley Sons, Ltd. Eldredge, L. K. B., Markham, C. M., Ruiter, R. A., Kok, G., Parcel, G. S. (2016).Planning health promotion programs: an intervention mapping approach. John Wiley Sons. Garg, A., Boynton-Jarrett, R., Dworkin, P. H. (2016). Avoiding the unintended consequences of screening for social determinants of health.Jama,316(8), 813-814. Johnston, J. L., Fanzo, J. C., Cogill, B. (2014). Understanding sustainable diets: a descriptive analysis of the determinants and processes that influence diets and their impact on health, food security, and environmental sustainability.Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal,5(4), 418-429. Marmot, M., Allen, J. J. (2014). Social determinants of health equity. World Health Organization. (2014).Social determinants of mental health. World Health Organization.