Understanding Health Determinants : Explanatory Theories for Social Epidemiology / by Ian McDowell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McDowell, Ian, 1947- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Epidemiology.

Social structure.

Equality.

Public health.

Medical policy.

Social Structure.

Public Health.

Health Policy.

Local Subjects:

Epidemiology.

Social Structure.

Public Health.

Health Policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (543 pages)

Edition:

1st ed. 2023.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer International Publishing : Imprint: Springer, 2023.

Summary:

This book assembles a wide range of explanatory perspectives on social inequalities in health. Everywhere in the world, those with less advantage die younger and suffer more illness than the wealthy. Decades of research have documented this reality and yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms through which social circumstances ultimately influence the biological processes that lead to disease. Explanations have been proposed from various disciplines – economics, psychology, behavioral science, geography, and neuroscience – and each sheds light on parts of the overall process. But very few texts assemble these insights into an overall explanatory paradigm. Through a review of concepts and theories from a wide range of disciplines, the author outlines how these may be woven together to offer a more complete picture of how social influences 'get under the skin' to affect health and disease. As well as understanding individual health, the book assembles explanations for social disparities in health. It concludes with a proposal for a set of explanatory models that cross disciplinary boundaries. Topics explored include: Social Inequalities in Health Explanation and Causal Models for Social Epidemiology Social and Economic Theories to Explain Patterns of Disease Biological Pathways Linking Social Determinants to Health Theoretical Models of Health Behavior Work Environment and Health Social Networks, Social Support and Health Positive Influences on Health: Coping and Control The Relationship Between Personality and Health Understanding Health Determinants: Explanatory Theories for Social Epidemiology is a textbook for graduate students in epidemiology, health sciences, health policy, and psychology, as well as social science students who are studying health. It will also be of interest to general readers, and can serve as a reference for researchers in epidemiology and the health sciences who are planning studies of the social determinants of health. The book reviews theories that could be tested in such studies. .

Contents:

Chapter 1. Social Inequalities in Health

Chapter 2. Explanation and Causal Models for Social Epidemiology

Chapter 3. Social and Economic Theories to Explain Patterns of Disease

Chapter 4. Biological Pathways Linking Social Determinants to Health

Chapter 5. Health Determinants Cumulate over the Life Course

Chapter 6. Theoretical Models of Health Behavior

Chapter 7. Work Environment and Health

Chapter 8. Stress and Health

Chapter 9. Social Networks, Social Support and Health

Chapter 10. Positive Influences on Health: Coping and Control

Chapter 11. Mental Processes and Health: the Mind-Body Connection

Chapter 12. The Relationship Between Personality and Health

Chapter 13. Overall Model for Social Determinants and Health.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

3-031-28986-2

OCLC:

1381712162