I. UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPTUAL AND METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN STUDYING HEALTH.
1. An Introduction to Health Sociology. Health consciousness and Healthy Behaviour. Medical Sociology: The Nature and Scope of the Field. From Medical Sociology to Health Sociology: Transforming the Field. The Development of Sociology of Health in Canada. Concluding Comments. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References.
2. Defining Health. Definitional and Measurement Problems: An Introduction. Alternative Sociological Perspectives for Understanding Health. Health and Illness as Gendered Experience: Explaining the Differences. Good Health verses Ill Health: Toward a Definition. Normal Health verses Perfect Health: Reality or Illusion? The Process of Health Status Designation. Health as a Multidimensional Concept. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References.
3. Measuring Health. The Challenge of Measuring Health. Assessing Population Health versus Personal Health. Health Status Indicators. Indicators of Ill Health: Limits to the Standard Approach. Indicators of Good Health: Measuring Wellness versus Sickness. Health Expectancy: Estimating Future Health Status and Quality of Life. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References. II. EXPLORING THE FACTORS THAT SHAPE HEALTH STATUS.
4. General Determinants of Health. What Makes People Healthy? The Major Determinants of Health Status: An Overview. Personal and Structural Health Determinants. The Relative Importance of Health Determinants. The Determinants of Good Health and Ill Health. Health Beliefs and Behaviour as Determinants. Concluding Comments. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References.
5. Health Beliefs: Accounting for Health and Illness. The Importance of Lay Beliefs About Health Maintenance and Illness Management. Popular and Professional Health Belief Systems. Commonsense Understanding of Health and Illness. Making Sense of Sickness: Lay Illness Belief Dimensions. The Health Belief Model: Illness Avoidance versus Health Maintenance. The Meaning of Wellness: Lay Conceptions of Good Health. Health Beliefs and Personal Health Practices. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References.
6. Personal Health Behaviours: Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle. The Changing Meaning of Health Behaviour: From Preventive Medical Care to Positive Health Action. Self-Health Management. Self-Care Behaviour and Health. The Dimensions of Self-Care Behaviour. Some Unresolved Issues in Self-Care Research. The Relationship Between Self-Care Health Practices. Self-Care and Health Lifestyle Behaviour. The Benefits of a Healthy Lifestyle: Lifestyle versus Life Circumstances. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References.
7. Social Structure and Health. Social Structure. Direct Effects. Indirect Effects of Social Class on Health: Life Chances and Health Choices. Conclusions. Key Terms. Internet Resources. Study Questions. Recommended Readings. References.
8. Social Support and Health. What is Social Support? Social Support: It's Good for Our Health. Especially Supportive Relationships. The Complexity of Social Support. Subcultural Variations in Social Support. How it Works: Links Between Social Support and Health Status.
