Health, Illness & Disease
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 5.1.2
Defining Health and Illness
Social constructionist definitions of health, disease and illness.
Health
- Health is defined as the ability to function normally with a person’s usual everyday routine.
Disease
- Disease is defined as a biological or psychological condition which usually involves medically diagnosed symptoms.
Illness
- Illness is defined as the subjective feeling of being unwell or in ill-health, so it is possible to have a disease and not feel ill as well as feel unwell and not have a disease.
The Social Construction of Health, Illness and Disease
Sociologists argue that health is also a social construction. What counts as health and illness varies between individuals and between social groups within a single society, between societies and over time.
Health within a society
- What counts as health and illness is a result of individual, cultural and social interpretations.
- In modern Western societies, good health is seen as maintaining slim, attractive bodies.
- However older people might not have the same view of good health as younger people, such as the absence of severe aches and pains compared to feeling well enough to go out with friends or play sports.
Health between societies
- What counts as good health also varies between societies:
- People living in an impoverished African country will have different views compared to a rich Western society.
Health over time
- Interpretations of health vary over time:
- Mental health is no longer seen as related to demonic possession.
- Smoking is now considered to be a major public health issue.